Three injured during the weekly protest of Bil'in

Friday May 23, 2008 19:00 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Villagers from Bil'in, located near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, supported by international and Israeli peace activists conducted their weekly nonviolent protest, on Friday midday, against the illegal Israeli wall built on the village's land.

Bilin Today - Photo by IMEMC Hitham Al Khateb

Protesters carried banners demanding the removal of the Israeli wall and settlements. As is the case each week the protests started after the mid-day Friday prayers were finished in the local mosque, villagers from Bil'in, along with Israeli and international peace activists, marched towards the location of the Wall which is separating the village from its land.

Immediately after the protest reached the gate of the Wall, soldiers showered the protestors with tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. Three protesters were injured by the Israeli army fire.

Those injured were identified as Eyad Burnat, from the friends of Bil'in Society, Ibraheem Burnat, a local activist and Mohamed Abu Sayad.

A group from the Palestinian Veterans Society joined the people of Bil'in in their weekly protest.

A smaller protest took place in the village of Um Salamunah near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Local sources told IMEMC that a group of 70 villagers, internationals and Israelis protested the settlers' road, which is located near the village. Israeli soldiers attacked the civilian protesters. No injures were reported, but Israeli police arrested 10 Israeli activists and released them after a short time.

palestine | non-violent action | news report ghassanb at imemc dot org