Palestinian demonstrators and international activists on Friday dismantled parts of a barrier Israel is building in the West Bank.

The incident took place during a rally in Bilin village near Ramallah city.

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and some 2,000 protestors took part in the demonstration which marks the five years since Bilin residents and foreign peace activists started peaceful measures against the construction of the separation wall.

Palestinian activists destroyed parts of the fence and clashed with Israeli soldiers.

Palestinians hurled stones at the Israeli forces, while the latter fired tear gas, rubber-covered bullets and opened dirty water cannons. Two Palestinians were injured, witnesses and medical sources said.

Prior to the rally, the Israeli army issued a statement saying it will redeploy its forces to avoid violence in the area.

Last year, Israel spent more than US$100,000 to repair parts of the fence that the Palestinians managed to destroy.

Israel started building the wall in the West Bank in 2002 to prevent Palestinians from reaching Israeli communities and possibly carrying out any attack.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2010)