Symbolic protest in Bil'in (photo by Haytham alKhateb)
On Friday, Israeli and international activists marched alongside the people of Ni'ilin, Bil'in and Jayyous in demonstrations against the theft of their lands, as well as in solidarity with the people of Gaza. The villages, located near the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Qalqilya, have been waging a long, persistent and nonviolent battle against the Apartheid Wall being built on their lands.
In Ni'ilin, hundreds of residents took part in the demonstration. Immediately following the traditional Friday prayers, people began marching through the village's olive plantations in an attempt to reach the lands confiscated by Israel. However as soon as the march came close to the route of the wall, Israeli soldiers began firing tear gas - and later on rubber coated steel bullets - at the crowd. Some demonstrators responded by throwing stones. As the confrontation progressed, soldiers advanced into the village, firing large amounts of tear gas canisters from the village's main road in every direction. 11 demonstrators were injured.
The army reacted similarly In Bil'in, where residents carried out a symbolically silent protest march, wearing UN, EU, and Arab League flags on their chests and carrying shoes with Israeli and American flags in their mouths, as a symbol of the power these two countries have to gag that rest of the world.
Demonstrators marched towards the village's lands on which the wall is being built, however, as in Ni'ilin, once the march reached the vicinity of the wall, Israeli soldiers standing behind concrete blocks began firing tear gas canisters at the demonstration. The army then proceeded to chase people back into the village by using rubber coated steel bullets and tear gas. Dozens suffered tear gas inhalation and five Palestinians were injured by live, 0.22 caliber bullets.
Jayyous saw a quiet demonstration inside the village, followed by an unprovoked military invasion to the town, leaving a few lightly wounded.
