Posted: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 10:57 AEDTIsraeli bulldozers demolish...

Posted: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 10:57 AEDT

Israeli bulldozers demolish Palestinian shops
Israeli troops have fired tear gas to disperse protesters in a Palestinian village in the West Bank, as bulldozers demolished about 50 stores, which Israel says were built illegally.

Witnesses say dozens of protesters - including Israeli human rights activists - were forced back after they threw stones at the troops in the village near the city of Tulkarm.

The Israeli civil administration in the West Bank said troops had torn down 21 small shops because they were built without permits.

However, a representative of the Israeli human rights group, B'Tselem, says more than 40 shops were actually demolished, along with about 50 small stores.

The head of the village council has accused Israel of destroying the Palestinian economy by implementing a starvation policy.