Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists block 446 highway during a day of coordinated protests throughout the West Bank, this one near the West Bank city of Ramallah, November 14, 2012. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists blocked roads throughout the West Bank on Wednesday in a coordinated direct action to protest the occupation. The specific focus of the demonstration varied from location to location, with some activists citing support for the Palestinian bid to upgrade its status at the UN later this month, tomorrow’s anniversary of the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, the anniversary of Yasser Arafat’s death, and Palestinian National Youth Week.
Activists in some locations were successful in blocking traffic for some time, while in others Israeli forces used sound bombs, tear gas, and arrests to disperse crowds.
Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists block Road 60, near the West Bank village of Ein Yabrud, November 14, 2012. (photo: Keren Manor/Activestills.org)
An Israeli settler uses his cell phone to take photos as Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists block Road 60 during a day of coordinated demonstrations blocking roads throughout the occupied territories, this one near the West Bank village of Ein Yabrud, November 14,2012. (photo: Keren Manor/Activestills.org)
A Palestinian man and a Israel settler argue as Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists block Road 60 during a day of coordinated demonstrations blocking roads throughout the occupied territories, this one near the West Bank village of Ein Yabrud, November 14,2012. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Israeli border policemen try to arrest a Palestinian activist as activists block 446 highway during a day of coordinated protests throughout the West Bank, this one near the West Bank city of Ramallah, November 14, 2012. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Israeli border policemen arrest a Palestinian activist as activists block 446 highway during a day of coordinated protests throughout the West Bank, this one near the West Bank city of Ramallah, November 14, 2012. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Palestinian, Israeli and International activists march inside the DCO checkpoint, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, November 14, 2012. (photo: Keren Manor/Activestills.org)
Palestinian and international activists march along Route 60 past the Israeli settlement of Efrat, November 14, 2012. The activists intended to join with others at Al Nashash Junction near Bethlehem to block traffic on Route 60, the main north-south highway in the West Bank. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
An Israeli soldier grabs an international activist by the neck while attempting to make an arrest, Al Nashash Junction, November 14, 2012. The activists intended to block traffic on Route 60, the main north-south highway in the West Bank. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
Israeli soldiers block the path of Palestinian marchers attempting to block Route 60 near the Al Nashash Junction, November 14, 2012. Activists at this event named Palestinian National Youth Week as the reason for the demonstration. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
A Palestinian and French activist are arrested by Israeli forces for blocking the path of israeli military vehicles during a demonstration at Al Nashash Junction, November 14, 2012. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
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We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine. The bloodshed unleashed by these events has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region. Hamas’ murderous assault in southern Israel has devastated and shocked the country to its core. Israel’s retaliatory bombing of Gaza is wreaking destruction on the already besieged strip and killing a ballooning number of civilians. Emboldened settlers in the West Bank, backed by the army, are seizing the opportunity to escalate their attacks on Palestinians.
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