Dozens Injured by Gas Bombs in Bilin Weekly Demonstration

This demonstration was held on the fourth Friday in Ramadan (3 September). The popular committee for resisting the Wall and settlements in Bilin  organized the demonstration, which began after the Friday prayer. They were supported by villagers and  number of international supporters, including members of the international peace movement, Labour Friends of Palestine and  and dozens of Israeli supporters.

As the protesters neared the Separation Wall,  teargas was fired heavily at the protesters and journalists. Clashes continued for hours as the Israeli military attempted to advance into the village. They continued to shoot tear gas up on the hill where spectators thought they were in safe range.  Eventually, the Israeli army ran into part of the crowd and began shooting rubber coated steel bullets. The occupation army implemented the plan to place dozens of soldiers among the trees in an attempt to arrest the participants, but failed to do so.

2-Ni’lin weekly demonstration 03.09.2010
Two demonstrators (international activists) were arrested while six others suffered acutely from tear gas inhalation and were cared for by the medical team. Dozens others suffered from the tear gas inhalation in this fourth demonstration in Ramadan and the people of Ni’lin village continue their struggle, despite Ramadan and the extremely hot weather. Like every week, the demonstration started with a prayer under the olive trees.

Seven international and eight Israeli activists joined our demonstration. As every Friday, the protesters marched towards the Apartheid Wall which is being built on our land. We are very upset because now we cannot farm on our land, some of which was set on fire by Israeli soldiers three weeks ago. The demonstrators carried pictures which showed the shameful crimes the Israeli soldiers committed against our prisoners.

When the protesters reached the Wall, the Israeli military started shooting tear gas canisters into the crowd. Six demonstrators suffered so badly from the inhalation that the medical team had to take care of them. Again, the soldiers tried to catch and arrest as many demonstrators as possible,  as they always do. This time they succeeded in arresting two international activists, one man and one woman. The soldiers beat the woman heavily, and even when she fell down and told them that her leg hurt very much they continued to beat her.

It was very strange and also scary, when the soldiers spread into the orchards and surrounded us; we all felt like in a trap. The demonstration was finished at 2pm. After a long time of interrogation, the detained activists were released.

Popular Committee

Iyad Burnat
0598403676

ibel2in (at) yahoo.com