Demonstration in solidarity with Silwan residents

27/02/2009

The residents of Bil’in marched towards the wall today after the Friday prayer, the protest was joined by Israeli and international activists. Protesters carried a huge banner with the flags of all the Palestinian political factions as a symbol of the Palestinian unity. Banners condemning Israeli’s racist policies and violence against civilians, especially in Jerusalem where Palestinians are facing ethnic cleansing were also carried. Recently, the Israeli army issued demolition orders in the Bustan neighborhood of Silwan in Jerusalem.

Some protesters wore masks of Mahmoud Abbas and Ismail Haniyeh and held hands while they marched towards the wall. This was a symbolic representation of the national unity among Palestinian political factions.

The protest began in the center of the village, called for national unity and resistance to the occupation, and headed towards the apartheid wall which is built on Bil’in’s land. An Israeli army unit was stationed behind the wall and prevented the crowd from going through the gate. The army fired tear gas canisters to disturb the crowd, causing dozens to suffer gas inhalation.