Tag: Bil’in

Bil’in Demonstrators Attacked by Experimental Weapons

for a short video, please click here

Friday afternoon, the first of September 2006, the non-violent Bil’in demonstration began as it has every week for over 18 months, with Palestinians, Israelis and internationals today totaling about 150 people, proceeding towards the illegal Wall constructed within the boundaries of Bilin’s land.

After the demonstrators marched towards the gate in the wall, they met a group of Israeli soldiers on the main road just few hundred meters from the center of Bil’in with a large tank capable of shooting liquid at high pressure. When the front line of non-violent demonstrators arrived in front of the tank, the Israeli Occupation Forces announced through loudspeaker that the area was a closed military zone. After announcing this, they retreated behind a large tank which contained a mix of blue chemicals and water, as used against Bilin demonstrations in the preceding weeks. Then they began to spray the front line demonstrators with this chemical mix.

Afterwards, a line of Israeli soldiers pushed the demonstrators with their shields. One Palestinian was detained in the process and de-arrested by a group of Palestinians and Israeli activists after he was taken to the jeep. Many other demonstrators remained further behind on the road, but within a few minutes some were hit with bean-bag bullets, by several IOF troops located within a hollow house located to the south of the road, and behind the front lines. In all, eight Palestinians, one journalist, four Israelis and one international were injured by the soldier’s aggression.

Israeli soldiers rushed into the village firing rubber bullets and teargas canisters, one military jeep arrived and supplied soldiers with more equipments and ammunition. Other weapons were also used – once again, Bil’in seems to be a testing ground for new types of “less lethal” weapons. One Palestinian and one Israeli were also hit with a sponge bullet, which places needles within the skin and sucks out blood. Additionally another Palestinian was hit with a rubber bullet during today’s demonstration

Tear gas and sound bombs were also used to disperse the demonstrators.

Partial Demolition of Israeli Colony in Bil’in

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Monday, August 28th, two structures were demolished in the illegal Israeli settlement of Matityahu East, on the land of Bil’in village. Construction of the settler colonies had continued until an Israeli court issued a stop work order pending a decision on the status of the colony. The demolition was carried out by the construction company responsible for expanding the colony. This reversal is in response to an Israeli Supreme Court order on July 20th, instructing the company to demolish the two partial structures. The court also decided that a Palestinian road must be built in order to give the villages access to their land. This latter ruling has so far not been enforced.

As well as demanding the demolition of the two structures in the Matityahu East enclave, the court instructed the company to restore the land to its previous pre-colonial state, wherein the land was a flourishing olive grove. Previously the whole of the illegal colonies of Matityahu and Mod’in Elit was agricultural land belonging to Bil’in and other villages in the area.

Occupation authorities annexed 1,100 dunums (275 acres) of the land of Bil’in in 1991. At the time, the confiscation was justified by reference to an old Ottoman-era law allowing for confiscation of unused land. Much later, it was revealed that in order to demonstrate that the coveted land was “unused,” the State made use of photos of seasonal crop farm land taken when the crops were not yet in season. More than a decade after the confiscation, Israeli colonial settlements began to be built, following a typical pattern of settlement expansion, whereby first, Palestinian land is declared State property and then eventually distributed to Israelis. As a reaction to the theft of the land, weekly non-violent demonstrations have been held in Bil’in village for the past 17 months.

These demonstrations, in existence weekly since January 2005, garnered international attention and support, making a protracted legal campaign challenging the settlement’s legality a possibility. Yesterday’s demolition is a major step in the struggle of Bil’in village to restore their land to its pre-colonial state. The village plans to continue to challenge plans to gain retrospective permission for other parts of the colony already constructed or under construction.

For more information call:
Mohammed Khatib 054 5573285
Abdullah Abu-Rahme 054 725 8210

Peace Demonstrators Beaten in Bil’in

by ISM Media Office volunteers

At today’s weekly demo against the Apartheid Wall in Bil’in soldiers attacked protesters with batons and fired rubber bullets at them from close range. Around 100 protesters including international and Israeli peace activists marching from the village mosque to the site of the Wall were confronted by lines of soldiers in riot gear at the edge of the village. Without provocation or intimidation the soldiers waded into the demonstration lashing out indiscriminately at the marchers. An American peace activist, Magan, suffered a concussion and severe bruising after being beaten on the forehead whilst Anna an American activist suffered severe hand injuries.

Demonstrators attempted to sit down but the soldiers’ repeated beating led them to disperse. An Italian and an Israeli activist were beaten so badly they had to be stretchered off to the ambulance to receive medical attention. Although injured both are now able to walk again. Palestinian non-violent activists Mansour and Saif also suffered particularly heavy beatings who later in the day arrived at the hospital for treatment. A Spanish activist and two Palestinians were arrested but released at the end of the demo suffering minor injuries.

As protesters dispersed the soldiers continued to pursue them back to the village. When Saif called for activists to avoid the soldiers’ beatings he was shot at and hit twice with rubber bullets. Not content with this level of brutality soldiers shot several more protesters with rubber bullets as they walked back to the village. Shooting Saif one more time in the back, and shooting at a group of other ISM activists. Anna in addition to her hand injury suffered one rubber bullet in the back and one in the hip. The soldiers then detained two activists but they were de-arrested by fellow activists.

The severe beatings indiscriminately given out at today’s demo continue to portray the Occupation forces’ escalation in violence against peaceful protest. The villagers of Bil’in will not be intimidated by such brutality and vow to return next week to continue their struggle against the Occupation and theft of their land.

Injuries and Arrests

  • Andrianes an Italian activist beaten badly with a baton.
  • Mansour Mansour the Palestinian ISM Campaign Coordinator was severely beaten with a baton.
  • Saif Abu Keshek the Palestinian Coordinator living in Spain was beaten with a baton and shot with 3 rubber bullets in the back and one in the leg.
  • Anna from US suffered injuries on her hand as well as 2 rubber bullets, one in the back and hip.
  • Lina from Germany suffered a rubber bullet wound on her leg.
  • Jonathon Pollack from Israel suffered severe beatings with a baton.
  • Dave from Ireland suffered beatings and a rubber bullet wound to the back.
  • Magan from US suffered harsh beatings with the baton, including one to her head, resulting in a concussion.
  • Coby from Israel suffered beatings from a baton.
  • Adeeb a Palestinian suffered beatings and was detained and later released.
  • Mohammad Khatib local Popular Committee member was detained and later released.
  • David from Catalonia was detained and later released.

Bil’in Demonstration Against the Wall Turns Blue

Today, August 18, the Israeli army and Border Police tried to prevent the weekly non-violent demonstration of Palestinians, Israelis and internationals in Bil’in against the illegal confiscation of their farmland by the Apartheid Wall and settlements. They used brute force to prevent the demonstration from reaching the site of the wall, despite an Israeli military court decision that people in Bil’in have the right of freedom of speech through “legitimate resistance”. In the morning of the demonstration a member of the Popular Committee of Bil’in received a call from the military threatening to use force to prevent the demonsratators from reaching the intended goal of the Wall.

Before the demonstration even began, the army and Border Police were already positioned within the village with armored Jeeps and a water canon. Bright blue water was fired from the canon at the demonstrators, totally unprovoked, as soon as they were within range of the massive white tank. Many demonstrators were soaked by the blue liquid, dying their hair, clothes and skin, and most of them reported subsequent burning and irritation of the skin that lasted into the night. Tear gas was also used against the demonstrators as soon as the water canon was engaged, so it is unclear whether the burning was from gas being absorbed into the wet skin and clothing, or whether the water itself contained a chemical. Regardless, the message from the Israeli army was clear: non-violent protest will not be tolerated and will be met by increasing displays of force.

As usual, the soldiers continued to use sound grenades, rubber bullets, and also the water canon as the protestors and journalists were retreating. There were seven people injured by rubber bullets and gas, including one photographer with Associated Press and several people had skin irritation and a hard time breathing from the tear gas.

The theme of this week’s demonstration was the continuity of the resistance in Bil’in, and the villagers and activists carried the message “You Cannot Break Our Spirit.” The Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements has organized weekly demonstrations since January 2005 against the wall and against the illegal confiscation of 60% of their farmland, and will steadfastly continue with their weekly demonstrations despite the army’s apparent intent to brutally repress them. The army’s behaviour at last week’s and this week’s demonstrations clearly show that they are trying to terrorize the villagers, internationals, and Israelis into not holding this demonstration anymore.

A representative of the national Islamic forces gave a speech at the beginning of the demonstration encouraging Bil’in and their supporters to continue struggling together despite the many forces that want the joint struggle to fail. On behalf of Bil’in’s Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, members added that they hope for the speedy recovery of supporters, Lymor Goldstein and Rina Klauman, who are still in the hospital for injuries incurred from last week’s demonstration.

Lymor, an Israeli lawyer, who was shot in the neck and head by rubber-coated metal bullet at close range last Friday, underwent immediate surgery to remove the bullet and shards of his skull, which was successful. He was put back in intensive care today, however, due to a severe infection in his brain and is undergoing surgery today.

Rina, from Denmark who suffered from a severe concussion, after a soldier beat her with the butt of his gun last Friday, is still hospitalized and awaiting the results from her MRI. However, she is beginning to feel better and is finally able to walk on her own today.

For more information:
Abudullah Abu Rahma: 054 725 8210
Mohammed Khatib 054 557 3285
ISM Media Office 02 297 1824

Demonstrators Remain in Hospital for Head Injuries in Bil’in


Rina, center, carries fake bloody bodies with other demonstrators to represent an entire family killed by the Israeli army

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rina Klauman, a Danish citizen from Copenhagen, and Lymor Goldstein, Israeli and formerly of Germany are still being hospitalized for their injuries from a demonstration in Bil’in village on Friday against the confiscation of 60% of Bil’in’s farmland by the separation wall and Jewish settlements.

The injuries of Rina, who was beaten on the head by border police, and an Israeli lawyer, Lymor Goldstein, who was shot in the head with a plastic-coated steel bullet on Friday, are the most serious injuries the army has caused in Bil’in since Ramzi Yassin, who was shot in the head with a plastic-coated steel bullet. Ramzi, from Bil’in, was handing out water during a demonstration in Bil’in on July 8th 2005, when he was shot in the side of the head. The bullet caused severe bleeding of his brain and he was left unconscious for 7 days and with permanent brain damage.

Last night Rina was transferred to Hadasa Ein Karem hospital in Jerusalem from the Hebron hospital in the West Bank for more extensive tests. They found in an MRI that she has small bleeding in her brain from a concussion she received when an Israeli border policeman beat her with his gun at the demonstration.

She is not able to walk and suffers from vomiting, but is able to talk and in stable condition. It is possible that if the bleeding does not subside, however, she may need complicated surgery to drain the blood.

Lymor is currently in a stable condition at Tel Hashomer hospital in Tel Aviv. He was taken in for immediate surgery, which took 3 hours, and a rubber bullet as well as shards of bone and damaged brain tissue were removed from his head and an internal hemorrhage was stopped. It is likely that he will need several more surgeries to correct his vision, and at this point it seems the only brain damage he has incurred affects his sight.

Bil’in village has held protests at least once a week since January 2005 against the separation wall that cuts through the village, and almost every week non-violent protestors are injured by the military’s violent repression of their demonstrations.

For more information:
ISM media office 02 297 1824