Israeli forces open fire on nonviolent Palestinian demonstration, six shot
12/09/2008
Source : PNN
The nonviolent Palestinian resistance remains strong in western Ramallah’s Bil’in Village where residents demonstrated after Friday prayers.
Foreign and Israeli supporters joined the Palestinians in holding banners denouncing Israeli confiscation of Palestinian land for settlements. The People’s Committee against the Wall and Settlements condemned the latest Israeli decision to confiscate hundreds more dunams from Jayyous for the benefit of settlements, all of which contravene international law.
Directly after noon prayers today, the second Friday of Ramadan, demonstrators gathered in the center of town and began the protest against the Wall, road closures, arrests and settlements. As they arrived to the area taken for the Wall and tried to cross through the gate to reach their land, Israeli forces fired gas and concussion grenades, injuring dozens. The soldiers did not stop at that and shot rubber-coated steel bullets injuring six people: Yassin Mohamed Yassin, Omar Khatib, Abdullah Abu Rahma, Adeeb Abu Rahma, Iyad Bernat and an Israeli journalist.
Before the demonstration a delegation of Belgians which included professors and journalists, visited the village and met with the People’s Committee. They were briefed on the nonviolent resistance against the Wall, ongoing for four years. The Belgians expressed their solidarity with the people of Bil’in and the nonviolent Palestinian resistance.
