Bil'in
A large number of internationals and a couple of dozen Israelis Joined the Palestinian demonstration against the wall and occupation in Bil'in. The demonstrators, over 300 altogether, marched chanting and waving flags (mostly French flags and the orange flags of Bargouthi supporters). Within seconds of the demonstrators reaching the wall's gate the army started shooting tear gas, and many demonstrators retreated. But a strong wind from the North and the enthusiasm built up during the 5th international Bil'in conference helped a larger than usual number of peaceful demonstrators to hold their stance and continue demonstrating by the fence. The demonstration went on for a while, unhindered by a token exchange of gas for stones. But then the army decided to escalate the violence with a second round of gas canisters, this time aimed directly into the crowd, in violation of the army's own rules.
A Palestinian citizen of Israel was hit directly in the forehead, and was immediately evacuated by an ambulance to Ramallah, where he was diagnosed with a fractured skull and then transferred to Israel for further treatment. Several other demonstrators were injured from gas inhalation, direct hits by gas canisters, and falling. A bunch of soldiers then entered the village to chase away the last remaining demonstrators. A Palestinian journalist who insisted on doing his job rather than running away was arrested. Several demonstrators then staged a sit-in on the road leading to the fence to demand his release, so the army came in and arrested them as well (three Israelis including one journalist and one US citizen). All those arrested are supposed to be released tonight.
Hebron
At around 15:45 a group of approximately 50 Palestinian, Israeli, and International activists gathered in Hebron next to the checkpoint gate separating Shuhada Street from the Casbah. The protest, which hopes to become a weekly action, was intended to disrupt the army-accompanied settler tour that goes through the Casbah (Old City) every Saturday. The Casbah is in a part of Hebron that is controlled by the Palestinian Authority (in contrast to Shuhada Street in the Israeli controlled part of the city) and thus, in theory, should not be an area restricted to Palestinian movement. The protestors stood in front of the gate where the tour usually enters, holding signs and chanting slogans in Arabic, English, and Hebrew; this continued for some time without any disturbance. Soldiers and Israeli police looked onto and videotaped the protest from pillboxes and rooftops nearby. Eventually the protest was declared over, but was then suddenly reignited with news that the settlers had managed to enter the Casbah through another entrance.
The protestors then began to advance through the marketplace alleyways to where the tour was said to be but they were met by a line of soldiers who blocked their path. Protestors continued chanting and tried to push past the soldiers claiming that it should not be a crime to walk through their own city. Protestors tried several times to run around to different entrances into the market to prevent the tour from progressing, but each time they were met by a chain of soldiers and the face-off /pushing began again. Amidst the chaos of running back and forth, one Israeli activist was arrested for no apparent reason. When the protesters re-grouped at the original location alongside the checkpoint gate, they formed a human wall in front of the soldiers by linking arms. The soldiers stood in front of the protestors, blocking them, in order to create a clear path for the settlers to exit the Casbah and pass through the gate back to Shuhada Street. The police then arrived and arrested two more Israeli activists as well as a Palestinian activist and resident of Tel Rumeida, Hebron. One of the arrests was particularly violent as the protestor was pushed to the ground and then dragged/carried away. The protest ended shortly afterward and, at the time of writing this report, the 4 arrestees are still being held in the police station in Kiryat Arbah.
Ni'ilin
Ni'lin's weekly protest was held to mark Palestinian Prisoner Day. In honour of the occasion, a Hamas member of parliament attended the protest in support of the popular struggle. The marchers held a banner calling attention to the imprisonment of members of Ni'lin's popular committee, and t-shirts sporting the pictures of the village's shabbab currently jailed were worn by all. the march set off to the fence gate, when it was attacked unprovoked by soldiers who fired metal tear gas canisters directly at the group of protesters closest to the gate. one israeli was lightly injured when the projectile hit his leg. following the immediate dispersal of the demonstration, some youths threw stones at the soldiers over the concrete wall. the soldiers fired tear gas at the protesters. then a group of three border police officers crossed the wall, followed by several soldiers. one of the border police officers fired live ammunition several times, presumably in the air, while chasing the protesters closer to the village. the demonstration ended around an hour and a half later with no additional injuries recorded.
Ma'asara
The demonstration in Ma'asara was smaller than usual. The protesters marched towards the entrance of the village where the soldiers awaited them behind an impromptu barbwire barrier placed on the road. When the protesters reached the barbwire they asked the soldiers to let them cross over and march towards their land, the soldiers declined. The protesters gave speeches in English and Arabic, reminding the soldiers that they will not stop protesting despite the increasing oppression. Following the speeches, the protesters went back to the village with a promise to come back again next week.
Al Wallaja
Around 40 Palestinians and internationals had managed to stop the work of the bulldozers for several hours in the village of Al Walaja, on 25.04.2010. The Israeli soldiers tried to remove people from the area, but demonstrators managed to stay until they were violently dragged one by one. The Israeli soldiers also used stun grenades and tear gas canisters directly at people, as well as pepper spray. One Palestinian got arrested.
Beit Umar
