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Israeli soldiers invaded Bil'in and arrested two people
07/07/2009
Israeli soldiers attacked Bilin and arrested two people– one of them American.
Bil’in Popular Committee
At 3 am 7/7/09 approximately, 100 soldiers and border policeman invaded Bilin and have attacked the homes of Basem Yasin, Akhmed Yasin, Shauket Khatib and Abd AlMuamen Abu Rakhma. They had arrested Majdi Abdel Muamer Abu Rakhma and an American activist when he tried to resist to invasion of a home.
A group of about 100 Palestinian, Israeli and international activists followed the soldiers, trying to stop them and make them leave the village. They have succeeded in doing so, and the rest of the houses without making any arrest. Thus, the popular committee asks Israeli and international activists to keep coming to the village in the following days, in order to resist further army invasions.
Such invasions have been going on in Bilin frequently in the last two weeks: soldiers arrested nine children and youth of the popular non-violent protest, and were attempting to arrest all participants of the popular protest.
Explosions Pierce the Quiet of Bi'lin
On July 7th at 3:30, soldiers disrupted the tranquility of Bi’lin by forcing their way into several houses. Israeli soldiers came with a list of 10 names for arrest .
When Palestinian, international, and Israeli activists arrived at the scene they were subjected to violence and intimidation by the Israeli occupation forces. One activist with the International Solidarity Movement had non-violently blocked the entrance to one of the doors when he was attacked by soldiers, forced to the ground, and subjected to pain compliance. He was then arrested and carried by a group of soldiers into a military jeep. When activists and community members responded, they were beaten back with batons and forced to dodge a large number of percussion grenades.
Meanwhile, activists tried blocking the jeeps from leaving by erecting makeshift barricades in the street. The Israeli occupation forces responded with a number of percussion grenades and then rammed their jeeps through. They forced their way up the street and to several other houses. While there, they arrested a young man and issued nine summons to families of youths who were not present. This was done without explanation or warning. In the process of storming other houses, the soldiers were again confronted by activists and community members who refused to be dispersed even after repeated percussion and flash bang grenade attacks by soldiers. The jeeps had to make an escape through a second set of erected barricades and they exited into the night with their victims inside.
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