Bil'in Tree Day Demonstration Attacked

Slightly less than a hundred protesters – Palestinians, Israelis and internationals – gathered in the village of Bil'in today Israel's Wall, which is built on their lands. The relatively smaller number of participant was a result of flying checkpoints the army has positioned on roads leading to the village. A number of activists were stopped and detained until the demonstration was over.

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After the midday prayer the demonstrators gathered next to the village's mosque, and proceeded to march to the barrier while chanting slogans and waving flags.

The demonstrators, who were marking the Palestinian Tree Day, planted an olive seedling adjacent to the Wall. Soon after, and without any provocation from the demonstrators, tear gas and concussion grenades were employed in an attempt to disperse the protesters. Roughly thirty minutes later, soldiers crossed through the gate in the barrier and attempted to chase and detain Palestinian protesters. No arrests were made.

Over an hour after the demonstration had began, soldiers eventually retreated back across the wall.

This week's demonstration in Bil'in marks a continued escalation of repressive tactics employed by the Israeli military. 2010 has seen a dramatic increase in night raids, arrests, and harassment directed towards the organizers of the Popular Committee resistance in the West Bank.