Six years of struggle and hundreds of demonstrations have left their indelible mark on the village of Bil'in. 2011 opened with the killing of Jawaher Abu Rahmah from severe asphyxiation caused by tear-gas inhalation.  In July, six years after their struggle begun and four years after the Israeli High Court has ordered the rerouting of the Wall on Bil'in's lands, residents of the village finally gained free access to 600 dunams (150 acres) of land that were previously sequestered behind the Wall.

Serving as a symbol for other villages across the West Bank, as well as for the Palestinian popular struggle at large, the village continues to struggle for the remaining 1350 dunams (330 acres) that are effectively annexed to the settlement of Modi'in Illit.
 
This week, residents of the village joined by Israeli and international activists, marched once again towards the Wall, reaching the Abu Lamon grove – the area that was returned to the village following the rerouting of the Wall.  When the protesters approached, the air was already filled with the smell of tear gas. The protesters marched upwind along the wall to the northern gate under a relatively mild attack of tear gas, and demanded to be let through to their lands. Some small clashes erupted between the local youth and the army. One protester was injured by a tear gas canister near the southern stretch of the fence. Clashes persisted for about two hours, until the soldiers crossed the wall and chased the protesters to the old Wall. During these events, 19 years old Muhammad al-Khatib, was shot with a rubber bullet in the neck.