Two Injured in Bilin Weekly Protest

Friday June 20, 2008 22:55 by Abedallah Abu Rahma - Bil'in - IMEMC News

On Friday, villagers from Bilin, located near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, along with their international and Israeli supporters marched in their weekly nonviolent protest against the illegal Israeli wall built on the village's land.

raeli troops attack peace activist in Bil'in - file 2008– Photo by IMEMC's Hitham Al Khateb

Protesters carried banners demanding the removal of the Israeli wall and settlements while calling upon the international community to help Palestinians retain Jerusalem. Protestors also carried photos of Ibrahim Burnat who was injured during last week's protest by three live bullets fired by an Israeli soldier at a close range. Burna is still receiving treatment in the hospital. The protests started after the mid-day Friday prayers were finished in the mosque with participants marching towards the separation wall which separates 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. Scores of protesters were treated for gas inhalation. Israeli troops used a new tear gas launcher which fires thirty canisters in one barrage. They also used a high pitched ‘scream’ device in an attempt to disorientate demonstrators. Two people were injured as a result of the rubber-coated steel bullets; Muheeb Albarghutee a journalist from Al Hayyat Al Jadeedah newspaper and Ranny Burnat a local activist. In addition tear gas canisters started several fires in the olive orchards burning many of the old trees. The fields belong to Rashid Muhammed Abu Rahma and Muhammed Ali Yasin, local sources reported. Last night Israeli occupation forces forcibly removed Palestinians inside an outpost built to monitor attempts to seize more land from the village. At midnight Abdullah Abo Rahma, Ahmad Ibrahim Abo Rahma and Farhat Ibrahim Burnat were beaten and detained before being forced back to the other side of the fence. Israeli soldiers also attacked the house of Muhammed Tawfiq Al Khatib and arrested his son Tariq. In related newes After a joint request by residents of Bilin and Jayyos villages with support from the Adalah-NY coalition, UNICEF confirmed this week that it would no longer accept financial or other support from Liv Leviev or his corporate entities. Leviev is a financial supporter of the illegal settlements of Modin Eilat and Zofim. Modin Eilat is built on land from Bilin village and Zofim settlement is built on land from Jayyos village and Abu Ghnaim Mountain. Representatives from Dubai have also been successfully petitioned to deny Leviev permission to open two stores there.

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