Muheeb Barghouti evacuated from Bil'in demonstration 

Dozens participated in the weekly demonstration against the Wall and settlements in Bil'in this week. Despite heavy showers, residents of the village, joined by Israeli and international supporters, marched after the Friday prayer from the center of the village towards the re-routed Wall. Upon reaching Abu-Lamon grove, stretching along the length of the Wall, the march was met by a volley of tear-gas canisters shot by soldiers who were based on the other side of the Wall.

A number of participants got closer to the Wall, aiming to make a claim on their confiscated lands. Muheeb Barghouti, an independent photojournalist, crossed the barbed wire surrounding the Wall in order to better capture the protesters. Once making it into the seam zone between the fences, and while engaged in taking pictures, Barghouti was shot in both legs by rubber coated bullets. The directed shooting caused a severe injury, leading to his evacuation to the hospital in Ramallah.

Muheeb Barghouti has been documenting the demonstrations in Bil'in since their inception in 2005. After his injury, some of the local youth threw stones at the soldiers, who used large amounts of tear-gas canisters, as well as the "skunk" - a water canon that sprays foul-smelling water, against the protesters. Clashes maintained for approximately 30 minutes, after which the demonstrators headed back to the village.

A similar demonstration was also held in the neighboring village of Ni'ilin. No injuries were reported.