Israeli forces clear Palestinian protest camp

In the West Bank, Israeli security forces raided and dismantled a makeshift village by force on Friday after it was occupied by Palestinian protesters.

Moving in during the early hours, police scattered dozens of activists, who had set up the protest camp to demonstrate against new Israeli settlements in Jericho, near the Jordan Valley.

Film footage taken during the forced clearance appeared to show the use of flares and stun grenades.

The Jordan Valley - the proposed eastern border of a future Palestinian state remains a major stumbling block in the current US led peace talks. Israel insists on keeping an army presence in the area as part of any deal.

Elsewhere in the West Bank and East Jerusalem aid agencies also expressed alarm on Friday at the number of demolitions by Israel of Palestinian properties, claiming the rate has doubled since July last year.