Davies tear-gassed by Israeli troops

OLDHAM’S Lib-Dem Euro-MP, Chris Davies, was left shocked but uninjured when he was knocked to the ground and tear-gassed by Israeli troops.

He told the Chronicle he was taking part in a peaceful demonstration against what he termed the theft of Palestinian land when the incident happened on Friday.

He said protesters had their hands in the air as a gesture of non-violence when soldiers released a barrage of tear gas grenades and sound-blast bombs.

The soldiers then advanced on the 100 Palestinian and Israeli protesters, who had been joined by supporters from France, Belgium, the Republic of Ireland and Britain, forcing them back and knocking some down.

The demonstration at Belin, 20 miles from Jerusalem, was to protest against the construction of a security wall, dividing Israel from the West Bank, but which cuts through Palestinian land.

Israel says it needs the wall to protect itself against suicide bombers but Mr Davies says it provides cover for the building of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

He says such settlements make it impossible to create a viable Palestinian state.

Mr Davies, who is a member of the European Parliament’s delegation to Palestine, was marching with Italian Euro-MP Luisa Morgantini.

He suffered no serious injuries but said the experience had left him shocked adding: “It is shameful that the troops of a democratic nation think nothing of attacking peaceful protesters on territory that is not their own.”

“When the attack began, I was reminding the soldiers that they were in breach of international law, and that the theft of Palestinian land could only increase divisions.”

Mr Davies called on the UK and EU to back up their words of condemnation against the illegal building of Israeli townships with some practical action.

“Peace in the Middle East demands justice and fair play,” he added.

“Our one-sided policy of support for Israel does nothing to address the despair that Palestinians feel as they see their land being taken from them.”