Dozens of Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists protested against the Separation Wall and settlements, in Bil’in village, near Ramallah. The peaceful protest was met with military violence; eight were injured, four arrested.
Abdullah Abu Rahma, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Bil’in, reported that soldiers barred the protestors from reaching the orchards and attacked them with batons.
The protestors wrote the names of landowners, who lost their orchards for the construction of the Wall, on big sings in English, Arabic and Hebrew.
“There are approximately 60 landowners who cannot reach their orchards since they became separated behind the Wall” Abu Rahma said, “We also wrote a message for the soldiers telling them ‘Stop, the Wall is illegal’”.
Several protestors attempted to cross into the annexed orchards, but soldiers attacked them and barred them from crossing, Abu Rahma stated.
“Soldiers attacked the protestors with batons, and injured eight”, Abu Rahma said, “Among the injured, one Spanish activist, one American, three Israelis”.
Some of the injured residents needed hospitalization for monitoring and further treatment, Abu Rahma added.
Attorney Anna Maria, 61, a Spanish peace activist, was among the injured; she was pushed by a soldier while she was standing in a relatively high area; she suffered two fractions in her shoulder.
Also, soldiers attacked violently clubbed and kicked residents Akram Al Khateeb, Adeeb Abu Rahma, and Abu Ali Faqeeh.
Also, soldiers arrested four international peace activists and took them to a police station in Givat Zeev settlement.
Abu Rahma told the IMEMC that the Popular Committee will concentrate in its upcoming protests on the illegality of the settlements, in addition to protesting against the illegal Separation Wall.
