Eight wounded in a nonviolent protest in Bilin

Friday May 18, 2007 18:58 by Staff - IMEMC News

Troops stopping protestors in Bilin (File)

In the West Bank village of Bilin Palestinian and international peace activists marched after the Friday prayer to the construction site of the wall in village. Two Palestinian Parliament Members also joined the weekly nonviolent demonstration which is organized this week to commemorate the Nakba.

Speaker stress the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to the land they were expelled from in 1948 according to the United Nations Security council 194.

Protestors also carried Palestinian flags and signs and banners calling the fighting factions of Fatah and Hamas to stop their infighting and lay their weapons down, calling on the leaders of both groups to make the cease-fire a reality or to step aside.

Troops on the other hand, started to fire tear gas and rubber-coated metal bullets and water cannons at the protestors. At least eight people were lightly wounded including three internationals and a journalist. Other journalists were treated for gas inhalation.

One big field of corn caught fire as some of the tear gas canisters fired at the protestors landed in it. The Popular committee held the Israeli army responsible for burning the field.

ramallah | non-violent action | news report george at imemc dot org