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World News

Former Archbishop of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah takes stand over Israeli West Bank barrier

by Aaron James

Patriarch Michel Sabbah demonstrated with hundreds of others after Mass in the Palestinian Christian town of Beit Jala on Sunday.

Asia News has reported that Israeli police launched tear gas at protesters, and arrested two of them when they began throwing rocks.

The group was protesting over the building of the latest section of a wall between by the Israeli government between Jersualem and Palestine, close to Beit Jala.

Israel says it's building the wall to protect against terrorist attacks.

Since it began building the wall in 2002, there have been at least 91 terrorist attacks from Palestine into Israel, killing around 300 people. Attacks have decreased since the first continuous section of wall was finished in 2006.

According to Asia News, Patriarch Michel said: "This land belongs to us... Whatever you do, no matter what your courts say, this land belongs to us and will return to us one day.

"You are stronger with your guns, but you are not the strongest when it comes to humanity."

The walls have divided Palestinian land, and reduced access their access to healthcare and education, however it has also reduced the number of Israeli checkpoints and roadblocks, meaning more freedom of travel.

Different sources give varying accounts of the barriers effect on the local economy, with some saying it has weakened it, and others saying it has strengthened it.

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