Two Children Injured, Three Arrested By Soldiers In Bil'in's Weekly Wall Protest

Friday May 21, 2010 23:33 by Staff - IMEMC News

On Friday two children were injured, along with three other civilians, as Israeli troops attacked the weekly nonviolent protest in Bil’in village, central West Bank.

Bil'in on Friday May 21st 2010 - Photo by Hamdi Abu Rahma

This week’s demonstration in Bil’in was conducted in solidarity with the Israeli settlement boycott movement.

Palestinians, Israelis and internationals gathered to protest not only the wall, but also to promote the boycott of goods produced in West Bank Israeli settlements.

Participants were given literature detailing the dozens of products that are produced on Palestinian land and billed as Israeli products for global markets.

Demonstrators marched to the Wall and attached boycott posters on the fence before Israeli soldiers entered the gate and aggressively fired tear gas into the crowd. Two children, including a mentally disabled boy, were injured as a result.

Three Israelis were arrested during the Israeli incursion: one journalist and two activists, Tali and Hamtal. Dozens suffered tear gas inhalation.

The demonstration was attended by a group of visiting students from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and students from al-Quds University.

Iyad Burnat spoke to the group about the village’s efforts to resist the confiscation and destruction of their land.

Haitham al-Khatib’s film, Life on Wheels, was shown, along with a film about the life and death of Bassem Abu Rahme, who was killed by Israeli forces in Bil’in last April at a non-violent demonstration.

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