Palestine: Bil’in protest report
Report: Friday July 10 2009: Two kidnapped and dozens suffering tear gas inhalation.
- Photo: ActiveStills. Protests in Bil’in confront Israeli apartheid wall.
Two kidnapped and dozens suffered from gas inhalation when Israeli troops attacked the weekly protest in Bil’in village near the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday.
International and Israeli supporters joined the villagers of Bil’in and marched from the village center after the Friday midday prayers. The protesters demanded the halt of Israeli illegal settlements and construction of the wall.
Among the protesters were leaders and supporters of the Palestinian National Initiative, PNI, which they marked their 7th anniversary
As the protesters arrived at the wall, Israeli troops stationed at its gate fired a barrage of sound bombs, tear gas and rubber-coated bullets. The soldiers also used what the villagers call the “bad smell” water (Darban). The “bad smell” Darban smell cause people to vomit and get miss oriented. Dozenes were teated for the effects of tear gas inhalation and cases of vomiting among them the Mustafa Al Barghouthi, General Secretary of the PNI and a Palestinian MP.
Because of the 5th anniversary for the international court of Justice , that deemed the Israeli Wall illegal, the local village committee against the Wall and settlements called for the popular nonviolent resistance to continue.
In related news, the Israeli military continued to invade the village of Bil’in . Troops kidnapped eight villagers and an international supporter this week. Local activists and international supporters responded to the nightly invasions by staying all night touring the village and stopping the military forces from kidnapping more civilians.
