Today and yesterday, several dozen left-wing Israelis and PA residents demonstrated in the area of the village of Bidou, not far from Jerusalem, where work on the barrier continues. Yesterday, protestors rioted and threw rocks at security forces at the site, hitting and lightly injuring two border guard officers in their faces. Several protesters were also injured as a result of crowd control efforts by IDF soldiers and police.
In the United Nations, as well, Arab and international efforts to foil Israel's chosen security measures continue. A UN committee in New York this week approved preliminary arrangements for an event entitled the "United Nations International Meeting on the Impact of the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Territory, Including In and Around East Jerusalem". The meeting is currently set to open April 15 in Geneva.
Addressing the UN meeting will be representatives of 12 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) approved by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People – an official UN body. A representative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to be among those speaking at the opening session. In addition, the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Ahmed Korei, might address the meeting's opening session, according to Committee Chairman Paul Badji of Senegal. Spokespersons for the UN Committee claim that the UN meeting will "feature Palestinian, as well as Israeli, views on the matter, and hear reactions from the wider international community."
In the United Nations, as well, Arab and international efforts to foil Israel's chosen security measures continue. A UN committee in New York this week approved preliminary arrangements for an event entitled the "United Nations International Meeting on the Impact of the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Territory, Including In and Around East Jerusalem". The meeting is currently set to open April 15 in Geneva.
Addressing the UN meeting will be representatives of 12 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) approved by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People – an official UN body. A representative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to be among those speaking at the opening session. In addition, the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Ahmed Korei, might address the meeting's opening session, according to Committee Chairman Paul Badji of Senegal. Spokespersons for the UN Committee claim that the UN meeting will "feature Palestinian, as well as Israeli, views on the matter, and hear reactions from the wider international community."