For Good Friday Palestinian Christians and Muslims continued the weekly nonviolent demonstrations in southern Bethlehem against land confiscation. Israeli forces that are building the Wall and expanding area settlements seriously injured six demonstrators and lightly hurt many more.

Hundreds of Palestinians were joined by foreign supporters who gathered near Israeli bulldozers digging under the protection of the army.

As demonstrators raised Palestinian flags, Spokesperson for the Committee to Defend the Southern Villages, Mohammad Brijeh, said, “Two thousand years after the crucifixion of Christ, the people are still suffering. Israeli aggressions in the area, with the Wall being just one of the manifestations, are clear signs of a desire to destroy the native inhabitants of the land.”

Just before Israeli soldiers swooped in and began beating Brijeh, he told the crowds, “The Israelis do not want peace. They want the land without its owners.” He was hit with batons and fists throughout his body. Among the several injured are Sami Awad, Director of the Bethlehem-based NGO, Holy Land Trust, a Land Defense lawyer, and personnel from the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees.

Khalid Azzeh, Chairperson of the Land Defense Committee, described the attack on demonstrators as an “indicator of the racist and violent nature of the soldiers and their state.” However, he said, the attacks “will not terrorize or deter the Palestinian people and their friends. The resistance will remain intact until the Palestinian people have achieved their rights.”