Home / In the Media / Demonstrations in Bil’in, Al-Khader and Shabtin villages, Mass arrests at Tel Rumeida protest

Demonstrations in Bil’in, Al-Khader and Shabtin villages, Mass arrests at Tel Rumeida protest

Bil’in:

For the original report from IMEMC on the 25th April, click here

On Friday, the villagers of Bil’in located near the central West Bank city of Ramallah conducted their weekly non-violent protest against the illegal Israeli wall built on the village land.

As the case each week, villagers from Bil’in along with Israeli and international peace activists marched towards the location of the Wall which is separating the village from its land. As soon as the protest reached the gate of the Wall soldiers showered the protesters with tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets. Scores of protesters were treated for gas inhalation.

The village of Bil’in has been protesting the construction of the wall on the village’s land since around three years.

Today Abdullah abu Rahmeh, the coordinator of The Popular Committee for Wall and Land Defense welcomed the international supporters who came from different countries in support of the local residents of the village of Bil’in in their anti Wall and settlement weekly protest.

Fabio, an Italian of the European Communist Party delivered a speech in which he expressed his support and solidarity with the residents of Bil’in. Hassan , a member of the Chic communist party praised the struggle of the residents of Bil’in and their right of having an independent State affirming the support of the European socialist parties of the Palestinians until gaining their freedom and independence.

Meanwhile, a delegation of physicians of the United Nations offered treatment and medicines to the residents of Bil’ien due to the bad economic and health situation and in the village.

Ahmad Yaseen, head of the village Council thanked the delegation headed by Dr Ghalib al Basheer for their support.

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Tel Rumeida:

On Friday 25th April, over 150 Palestinians, internationals and Israeli’s demonstrated in Tel Rumeida, Hebron, to mark the anniversary of the of occupation of the West Bank. The demonstration was organised to show solidarity with those Palestinians who live next to the illegal settlements.

The demonstration then proceeded to Abraham’s mosque, blocking a nearby settler road. Settlers immediately came out and violently attacked the protesters, while the Israeli army watched. The settlers then slashed the tires of two cars belonging to those showing solidarity with the Palestinians.

Despite these acts of aggression from the settlers, when the Israeli police arrived, they arrested 60 of the Israeli and international protesters, despite no reason being given for their arrest. All were released later that day.

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Al-Khader:

For original report from IMEMC on the 25th April 2008, click here

The Village of Al Khader stage a nonviolent protest against the Israeli Wall

Around 100 villagers from Al Khader village located near Bethlehem city in the southern part of the West Bank supported by a small number of international and Israeli peace activist protest the illegal wall Israeli is building on the village land.

The protest took the form of holding the Friday prayer in the street at the presence of around 30 Israeli soldiers. The protest ended after speeches by the local committee against the wall and settlement construction was delivered.

Samer Jaber, told IMEMC that Friday’s protest comes as part of the ongoing efforts to protest the wall and protect the lands of Al Khader. He added that the Israeli troops manning the checkpoint near the village did not allow the Israeli activists to come inside the village to join the Friday activity, so they had to get to the village from a different route.

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Shabtin village:

On Friday 25th April, dozens of Palestinian protesters from the village of Shabtin marched together against the illegal settlement work that is taking place close to their homes. Four of the demonstrators were injured, two by live ammunition, as the Israeli army attacked the demonstration.

The demonstration was organised in protest to the Israeli construction that is taking place right next to the village. The night before the protest, villagers were kept awake until the early hours of the morning as Israeli machinery was clearing the land. Villagers have also expressed deep concern as to the impact that the heavy machinery is having on the foundations of their houses.

Villagers gathered after noon prayer and marched to the construction site, managing to disable one of the bulldozers before the Israeli army quickly arrived and started shooting live ammunition and rubber coated steel bullets into the crowd, injuring four people.

As the villagers retreated, the Israeli army followed them constantly firing, continuing for over an hour and a half.