The Friends of Freedom and Justice (FFJ), In Bil’in village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, reported that two nonviolent protesters were injured, and dozens suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, after Israeli soldiers attacked the weekly nonviolent protest against the Wall and Settlements. The FFJ said that delegations from the European Union and the Unites States, in addition to activists from different countries, participated in the protest along with the local Palestinian peace activists and Israeli supporters.
The weekly protest started after Friday prayers at the village’s mosque. Protesters headed toward the Annexation Wall, separating the residents from their orchards and lands, chanting slogans against the occupation, the apartheid wall, the settlements, and calling for unity among all Palestinians. Many also called for the release of all Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel.
As the protesters arrived at the Abu Lemon Natural Reserve, some protesters walked through an existing breach in the barbed wire located a few meters away from the enormous concrete separation wall. Israeli soldiers fired gas bombs, concussion grenades and rubber bullets at the protestors.
Two residents were injured, while dozens of local, Israeli and international peace activists suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Toward the end of the protest a handful of youths hurled stones at the army. Soldiers also deliberately fired gas bombs at olive orchards setting several trees ablaze.
The nearby villages of Ni’lin and Nabi Saleh, and the Al-Ma’sara village, near Bethlehem, held their weekly nonviolent protests against the Wall and Settlements, and the army attacked them with batons and rifle-butts, and fired gas bombs.
