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2007 Breaking News
Defending the Barricade
Oded Balilty, The Associated Press
In February 2006, a dispute over an unauthorized settlement in the West Bank pitted Jewish settlers against the Israeli government. Israeli authorities said the nine houses were built illegally on Palestinian land. As Israeli security forces surrounded the area, the settlers barricaded themselves in the houses and set tires ablaze.
Associated Press photographer Oded Balilty watched club-wielding riot police clash with protesters slinging stones and chunks of concrete. Dozens of demonstrators were arrested. More than 200 people were injured.
As a line of police officers marched toward one house, Balilty noticed a defiant teenage girl standing firm. "They came and she ran into them," he said. Moments later, the police dragged the girl by the hair and beat her with clubs. Within hours, the houses were rubble. |