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Dozens suffered teargas inhalation during Bil'in protest in support of Jerusalem and the Islamic Holy Sites
12/03/2010
by Bil’in Popular Committee
This week’s demonstration was part of the National Culture Week for Jerusalem and was joined by international and Israeli activists. The protest was organized by the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Bil’in and was joined by the Minister of Culture, Siham Barghothi, and members of the Democratic Youth Union , Fida’.
Protesters carried posters of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, who is one of the symbols of the National Culture Week, along with Palestinian flags and banners calling for an the end to the occupation and home demolitions in Jerusalem.
Siham Barghouthi, the Minister of Culture, stated that Bil’in village sent a message to the world about creative examples of nonviolent popular resistance and the steadfastness of the Palestinian people against the theft of their land.
Protesters marched in the village calling for national unity against the occupation and rejecting the recent Israeli decision to confiscate Islamic historical sites under Israeli control. An Israeli military unit was in the olive groves inside the village, where they were spotted by some protesters. Mohammad Ahmad (18 years) and Mohammad Abu Rahmah (15 years) were shot with rubber coated steel bullets at the scene.
Delegations from Norway and Japan visited the village earlier this week and attended a presentation by the Popular Committee.
The Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Bil’in condemns the Israeli decision to build 50,000 new housing units in Jerusalem.
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