Protest Against Israeli Wall in Bil'in Attacked

For Immediate Release
ISM Media Office
December 14, 2004

Protest Against Israeli Wall Construction in Bil'in Attacked by Israeli Forces

International Peace Activists Beaten and Arrested Israeli Activists Arrested

At approximately 8:00AM, villagers of Bi'lin and international peace activists, inlcuding Israeli activists, gathered in the center of the village of Bil'n, located between Ramallah and Budrus. They organized a peaceful protest against the illegal Israeli Wall and the construction that began two days ago. The Israeli army is preparing to destroy the village residents' trees and land in order to make way for the Wall.

The protestors marched to the construction site and were met by at least 30 Israeli soldiers, border police and other security personnel. The army began throughing sound bombs and shooting rubber-coated steel bullets at the peaceful protestors in an attempt to remove them from the area.

As Israeli occupation forces began arresting Palestinians, international peace activists were beaten and also arrested as they tried to intervene nonviolently. One internaiotnal was beaten repeatedly in the legs and was unable to walk.

Four Israeli activists and three internationals have been arrested and taken to a location within Israel.

At the time of this report, the Israeli army has violently pushed the protestors back away from the construction site.

ENDS

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