Palestine News Network (PNN) : "Day and night demonstrations against Wall, arrests and land confiscation in central West Bank" par Iyad Burnat

25.07.09 - 21:47

Bil’in / Iyad Burnat – On Friday some 200 Palestinian, Israeli and international activists participated in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the Wall in western Ramallah’s Bil'in.

Protesters gathered in the center of town before waling together toward the Wall. They chanted slogans and waved the Palestinian flag.

After a few minutes, residents of the town and their supporters were met with noxious gas, but few stayed away despite the heavy smoke. They shouted their claims to their rights and for an end to the military occupation. Repeated gas bombs dispersed them only temporarily. At one point a soldier threw an explosive but it detonated prematurely, gassing other soldiers. This was met with cheering and whistling from demonstrators.

Some people suffered minor injuries such as superficial burns from gas bombs that hit them after bouncing off the ground. Others suffered from severe respiratory problems after having been exposed to dense gas.  

One hour into the demonstration, protesters slowly returned to the center of the village. No arrests were made, and the night before was dedicated to the issue.

Palestinians, along with their foreign and Israeli supporters, marched through the streets of Bil’in on Thursday night. They headed toward the Wall that stretches across Palestinian land, but stopped short as soldiers often begin firing before the crowds are near. From 100 meters away demonstrators called on the Israeli army to cease its campaign of harassment against the town that includes nightly raids and arrests. As it walked in the middle of the night carrying flashlights, the group called for justice and an end to the Wall and occupation.
 
A leaflet printed for the army read, “We, the people of Bil’in, know that you have practiced all sorts of oppression against us and our rights. In your eyes we are all wanted only because we choose to struggle for our rights for freedom and dignity. You must realize that we are not afraid of you. On the contrary, we are convinced more than ever that we are doing the right thing. For several weeks now, you have let none of us sleep. Even if you knocked gently on our doors, both you and we know that you are harassing unarmed children and their families. Intimidating children and sick people constitutes collective punishment of the civilian population. These kinds of actions have a name: terror. Why do you hide your faces? You are not in some important battle, as your commanders lie to you. Everyone knows your actions are criminal, there is no need to cover your faces. Get rid of the masks, in any way you cannot hide the truth – the truth, that by raiding the village and depriving the entire village of sleep for weeks, you are acting as terrorists.”



http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6273



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