Israeli Activist Arrested in Bil’in as Residents Commemorate Land Day

26/03/2010

by Bil’in Popular Committee

The weekly protest in Bil’in this week was held in commemoration of Palestinian Land Day. The crowd headed out after the Friday prayer to protest the wall and settlements, despite military orders two weeks ago declaring the village a closed military zone. The protest was joined by Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, the head of the Palestinian National Initiative, along with international and Israeli activists.

The protesters carried Palestinian flags and called for national unity against the Israeli occupation and against the confiscation of Islamic holy sites and stated their refusal of the recent military orders.

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 immediately fired teargas canisters and rubber bullets at demonstrators, causing dozens to suffer gas inhalation. The army also arrested 54-year-old Israeli activist Ghor Mintser.

The Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Bil’in demanded that the Arab League take further steps toward confronting the Israeli occupation and ongoing settlement expansion. They also called on the Arab League to demand international enforcement of the Goldstone report and work toward boycott of and divestment from Israel .

A delegation from Liverpool University in the UK visited the village and attended a presentation by the Popular Committee about the experience of the nonviolent resistance in the village and its achievements.