Israeli Peace Caravan Rolls Through West Bank

Occupied West Bank--Hundreds of Israeli peace demonstrators in a caravan of cars and buses rolled through the West Bank on Saturday, calling for an end to Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinians smiled and waved at the peace activists as they passed over roads where scores of Israeli cars have been stoned since the Palestinian uprising began nearly six months ago.

Convoys from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem brought between 1,500 and 2,000 people to an army firing range outside Nablus for a rally organized by the Peace Now movement. The rally was the first peace demonstration inside the occupied territories since the anti-Israel protests began Dec. 9.

Some Arabs gave the “V for victory” sign at the passing line of cars, and one man waved an olive branch.

“It’s a good thing,” said a 19-year-old Palestinian student from Al Bireh, who identified himself only as Raed. “We want them to work with us to liberate our occupied lands because most of the Israelis are not with us.”

An army spokesman said no incidents occurred during the rally or while people traveled to it. Elsewhere in the West Bank, protesters and soldiers clashed in at least two cities, Palestinian sources said.

In Ramallah, 9 miles north of Jerusalem, troops used rubber bullets, tear gas and live ammunition to break up a brief protest. One soldier reportedly was injured, but an army spokesman said he could not confirm the report.

At several points, army jeeps escorted the convoy from Jerusalem, which stretched for about 2 miles and was made up of about 200 cars and buses.

“We are trying to show them we are different,” said Eddy Kaufman, a professor of political science at Hebrew University. “It’s important for them to know that there are Israelis carrying on a mission of peace and not annexation.”