TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Israeli troops fired rubber bullets at activists spraying graffiti on a security fence Israel is building in the West Bank town of Qalqilya, BBC reported.
A spokesman for the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement said at least seven foreign activists and two Palestinians were hit by bullets but were not seriously hurt.
The Israeli army said troops had used "non-lethal means of crowd-dispersal" against a group of protesters trying to vandalize the fence.
The United States has expressed concern about the fence being built around Palestinian areas. On Friday, Secretary of State Colin Powell warned the West Bank barrier could undermine the peace plan, known as the roadmap.
Israel says the 370-mile (600 kilometers) long fence is meant to keep out suicide bombers, but Palestinians say it cuts into their territory.
