Last week's Bil'in Weekly Demo 07-05-2010 By Haitham Al Katib

Bilin Weklly Demo 07-05-2010 By Haitham Al Katib

haithmkatib — May 14, 2010 — One resident was injured and dozens suffered teargas inhalation during a protest to commemorate the 62th Al-Nakba anniversary in Bilin.

Protesters set out toward the wall carrying Palestinian flags and calling for national unity against the Israeli occupation, land confiscation and stating their refusal to all military procedures to close the village and prevent activists from joining protests.

Todays demonstrators, consisting of Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals, processed from the Bilin mosque towards the Wall. Halfway along the route, the procession picked up additional demonstrators in the form of several men dressed entirely in black, carrying a coffin with a man inside. The grim scene symbolized the Palestinians loss of land during the nakba and their inability to return to these lands. Most importantly, the coffin symbolized the fact that Palestinian refugees are not allowed to bury their deceased loved ones on their native soil.

When the protest reached the wall, an Israeli army unit was stationed behind a concrete block. The gate that leads to the confiscated land was already closed and barbed wire was in place in front of it. The army fired teargas which caused fire in the olive groves. Haitham was shot by a teargas canister and he was transferred to Ramallah for medical treatment.

The army arrested three residents: Ashraf Abu Rahmah, 28 years old, Abed and Al-fatah Burnat, 53 years old and Haitham Alkhateeb, 34 years old. Two Israeli activists, Dr. Roy Vakner, 37 years old, Ori Baytmen, 27 years old, and an American activist, Stormy, 27 years old were also arrested.

In addition, the Israeli occupation authority released Hamzah Burnat (16 years old) after spending 8.5 months at Reyonim prison for his participation in the weekly protests. Ofer court declared yesterday a 10 month sentence on Ibrahim Burnat and a 2000 shekel fine for his participation in the protests.



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