Protesters Breached the Wall in Bil'in

Over a thousand protesters responded to the Bil'in Popular Committee's call to march on the Wall in the village today, in what they announced to be "the last day of the Wall". Two protesters were hospitalized for their injuries.

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Over a thousand people heeded to the call issued by the Bil'in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements today, and joined the weekly demonstration. Despite the siege laid on the village by the Israeli army, activists - Palestinians, Israelis and internationals - swarmed the hills and valleys surrounding Bil'in by the hundreds and managed to join those already in the village.

 

Protesters carrying back a dismantled part of the wall back to the village. Picture credit: Hamde Abu Rahmah
Protesters carrying back a dismantled part of the wall back to the village. Picture credit: Hamde Abu Rahmah

Among those giving speeches before the demonstration were local leaders, as well as Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, who voiced his support for Bil'in and the popular struggle. The march then proceeded towards the Wall, where it was barraged with tear-gas on sight.

 

 

Protesters marching to the Wall in Bil'in. Picture credit: Hamde Abu Rahmah
Protesters marching to the Wall in Bil'in. Picture credit: Hamde Abu Rahmah

Small organized groups of protesters then spread across the Wall to try and implement the popular committee's announcement that he last day of the decade will indeed also be the last day of the Wall on Bil'in's land. An overwhelming number of Israeli soldiers and Border Police officers spread along the path of the Wall, but were not able to stop demonstrators equipped with bolt-cutters from breaching through the Wall in three places.

 

In one place, the protesters actually managed to carry a rather significant chunk of the Wall back to the village.

One protester was hit in the face with a tear-gas projectile shot directly at him, and required hospitalization. Another female protester suffered such degree of asphyxiation from the tear-gas that she had to be evacuated to the Ramallah ICU, where she is still under observation.