Dozens Suffered Teargas Inhalation during Bill'in Protest in
support of Jerusalem and the Islamic Holy Sites
This
week’s demonstration was part of the National Culture
Week for Jerusalem
and was joined by international and Israeli activists. The protest was
organized by the Popular Committee Against the
Wall and Settlements in Bil'in and was joined by the Minister of Culture, Siham
Barghothi, and members of the Democratic Youth Union ,
Fida’.
Protesters carried
posters of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, who
is one of the symbols of the National Culture Week, along with Palestinian flags and banners calling for an the end to
the occupation and home demolitions in Jerusalem.
Siham
Barghouthi, the Minister of Culture, stated that Bil'in village sent a message
to the world about creative examples of nonviolent popular resistance and the
steadfastness of the Palestinian people against
the theft of their land.
Protesters
marched in the village calling for national unity
against the occupation and rejecting the recent Israeli decision to confiscate
Islamic historical sites under Israeli control.
An Israeli military unit was in the olive groves inside the village, where they
were spotted by some protesters. Mohammad Ahmad (18 years) and Mohammad Abu
Rahmah (15 years) were shot with rubber coated steel bullets at the scene.
Delegations from Norway and Japan
visited the village earlier this week and attended a presentation by the
Popular Committee. The Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in
Bil'in condemns the Israeli decision to build 50,000 new housing units in Jerusalem .
For
more information:
Dr.
Rateb Abu Rahmah – Member of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and
Settlements in Bil’in: 0597117673 saborahmeh42@