Five injured during fourth anniversary of Bil’in’s struggle against the Apartheid Wall

from International Solidarity Movement

The Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr. Salam Fayyad, visited the village of Bil’in on the 20th February, to join the Friday prayer. This visit comes in solidarity with the residents in their fourth anniversary marking the popular struggle against the Wall. Mr. Fayad expressed his support to the village and the residents who carried a struggle in the past four years against the wall. He also supports the village to continue until the end of the occupation.

The residents of Bil’in gathered today after the Friday prayer to mark the 4th anniversary of the struggle against building the wall and settlements. Party members and supporters of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) also celebrated its 40th anniversary. Representatives from many of the national parties also joined the protest, members of Fatah party and the Palestinian Initiative, the National Palestinian Struggle, members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC): Moheeb Awad, Walid Assaf, Qayis Abu Layla, and Mostafa Al Barqiti, and a member of the Israeli Knesset, Mohammed Bakri and Afo Ighbariya from Hadash party. International and Israeli peace activists joined the protest in solidarity. Also, members of the Popular Committee against the Wall in Ni’lin joined the protest.

Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and carried banners condemning violence against civilians and the building of the Wall and settlements, especially in Jerusalem and the Jordan valley. The protest also called for national unity and defense of the Palestinian national rights.

The protest left from the center of the village and headed towards the Apartheid Wall, which is built on Bil’in’s land. An Israeli army unit was situated behind the wall and prevented the crowd from going through the gate by firing tear gas canisters, causing dozens to suffer gas inhalation. Five were injured: Mohammed Adeeb Abu Rahmah, Mohammed Nabil Abu Rahmah, Abed Al qader Abu Rahmeh, Isamail Abu Rahmah, and Omer Al Tamimi.

The Popular Committee appreciated the efforts of the protesters and the solidarity groups, especially the medic crews from the Red Crescent and the Medical Relief Committee in their great help with injuries today and throughout the past four years.

The Israeli army invaded the village twice yesterday (19th February). First in the afternoon, they reached the center of the village and set up a checkpoint stopping people from passing through. Some youth from the village responded by throwing stones. The army left returned later at night and fired teargas and sound bombs inside the village in an attempt to terrify the residents and spread fear. The army has been continuously raiding the village, mostly at night, for the last few days in order to break the people’s spirit in continuing their struggle against the wall and settlements on their land.

For video, go here.