The army declared the village of Bilin, in the Ramallah area north of Jerusalem, a closed military zone and tried to prevent the weekly demonstration, which was planned to be unusually large. Activists refused to disperse and then hurled rocks at soldiers, who fired rubber bullets and tear gas. At least two protesters were lightly injured.
Village residents claim the fence is being built on their land.
Left-wing organizers said a large demonstration was intended as a response to last week's violence, which resulted in injuries to demonstrators and soldiers. Soldiers were filmed beating a left-wing activist, and several people were injured after a subsequent battle between rock-throwing Arabs and soldiers who fired rubber bullets.
One soldier so far has lost an eye in the violent protests at Bilin, but despite the frequency of the protests and stone throwing against soldiers, police have not carried out mass arrests as they did against non-violent anti-expulsion activists. They often were jailed for weeks for passing out orange ribbons and blocking roads.
The IDF sent 150 soldiers into Bilin Friday morning and imposed a curfew to prevent non-residents, who were staying in several houses, from demonstrating, according to Arab activist Mohamed al-Khatib.
Several residents tried to defy the curfew and distracted soldiers, allowing their guests to escape, he added. Three International Solidarity Movement (ISM) activists and five Israelis were arrested by police. ISM protestor Gretta Berlin said activists suffered bruises and scratches in skirmishes with police.
Military sources denied accusations that the IDF tried to cancel Moslem prayer services at a mosque and explained that officers did not interfere with prayers but barred the "muezzin" from using loudspeakers to call people to the mosque.
Village residents claim the fence is being built on their land.
Left-wing organizers said a large demonstration was intended as a response to last week's violence, which resulted in injuries to demonstrators and soldiers. Soldiers were filmed beating a left-wing activist, and several people were injured after a subsequent battle between rock-throwing Arabs and soldiers who fired rubber bullets.
One soldier so far has lost an eye in the violent protests at Bilin, but despite the frequency of the protests and stone throwing against soldiers, police have not carried out mass arrests as they did against non-violent anti-expulsion activists. They often were jailed for weeks for passing out orange ribbons and blocking roads.
The IDF sent 150 soldiers into Bilin Friday morning and imposed a curfew to prevent non-residents, who were staying in several houses, from demonstrating, according to Arab activist Mohamed al-Khatib.
Several residents tried to defy the curfew and distracted soldiers, allowing their guests to escape, he added. Three International Solidarity Movement (ISM) activists and five Israelis were arrested by police. ISM protestor Gretta Berlin said activists suffered bruises and scratches in skirmishes with police.
Military sources denied accusations that the IDF tried to cancel Moslem prayer services at a mosque and explained that officers did not interfere with prayers but barred the "muezzin" from using loudspeakers to call people to the mosque.