Israeli forces use tear gas against peaceful protest near Bethlehem

Ma'an
A peaceful protest at the Beit Sahour Family Park was dispersed by Israeli forces Sunday morning. Organizers said soldiers deployed tear-gas canisters to scatter the crowd.

Approximately 30 people arrived at the part to protest the Israeli decision to construct a small military base and watch tower on the land.

Beit Sahour residents and international solidarity activists have gathered in the park on an increasingly regular basis to work the lands and protest the renewed Israeli presence.

The area, turned into a military base when the West Bank was under Jordanian control, was taken over by the Israeli army in 1967. The post was abandoned in 2006. Since then, residents have attempted to develop the area, but plans for a children's hospital were dumped when planners could not get permission from Israeli authorities since the land is in "Area C."

USAID funded the Family Park in part, but ordered the project halted when Israeli officials refused to provide written permission to the organization....   Full story