Israeli forces target Palestinian cameramen at Bil’in demonstration

25/09/2009

Source : ISM

Update, 26/09/2009 : All of yesterday’s arrestees have been released late last night. the israelis and internationals were forced to sign an undertaking to stay away from the Bil’in-Ni’lin area for 15 days. Haitam al Khatib was already charged with violating a closed military zone order, forced to sign an undertaking to stay away from the fence in his own home, Bil’in, and ordered to show up to a court hearing in six months.

For Immediate Release

25 September 2009: Israeli forces target Palestinian cameramen at Bil’in demonstration.

Around 1pm, Israeli forces arrested 2 Israeli solidarity activists and a Palestinian cameraman, Haitham al-Khatib (33 years old) during a demonstration in the West Bank village of Bil’in.

Witnesses say that Israeli soldiers ran in and arrested the 3 demonstrators. Haitham al-Khatib was filming the demonstration near the Wall when he was taken.

Haitham has been filming the ongoing Israeli arrest campaign in Bil’in. One of his videos was recently used by several news sources, including the Israeli news, YNet, to showcase the violence and intimidation used by the army against Bil’in residents. Thousands of viewers worldwide have been following the night raids in Bil’in through Haitham’s videos on Youtube.

Haitham was previously detained by Israeli forces on 24 July 2009 when he arrived at Ofer prison to wait for the release of another Bil’in resident. He was held for several hours and interrogated.

Coordinator of the Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, Abdedallah abu Rahme, stated, “Soldiers coming to arrest Palestinians from Bil’in in the night is only part of intimidation campaign, the Israeli authorities are also targeting our supporters and journalists. They want us to stop our non-violent demonstrations, but as long as our land is being stolen, we cannot stop.”

More infos : Support Bil’in amidst the ongoing Israeli arrest and intimidation campaign