Description

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Palestinian police on Monday ordered Israeli Border Police forces out of the Beituniya area of western Ramallah and threatened to use their weapons if they refused, local security sources told Ma'an.

Security sources said that Israeli forces had been chasing Palestinian schoolchildren in the area, when a number of Palestinian police officers led by Lieutenant Akef al-Shalan arrived.

Shalan ordered the Israeli forces to leave the area and threatened to use weapons if they refused.

Large parts of Beituniya, on the western outskirts of Ramallah, are classified Area A, where the Palestinian Authority is supposed to have full civil and military authority as part of the Oslo Accords, although Israel regularly flouts this.

Video footage was later released appearing to show the Palestinian officers leading the Israeli forces away, while locals shouted their approval.

An Israeli army spokesperson had no immediate comment on the incident.

Earlier Monday, Israeli forces shot and wounded a 14-year-old schoolboy during clashes in Silwad northeast of Ramallah.
Thousands of Palestinians have been shot and wounded by Israeli forces since a wave of unrest swept the occupied Palestinian territory at the beginning of October.

Features