Friday 07/22/2011 Injury of a journalist in addition to dozens of cases of suffocation in Bil'in's weekly demonstration.

Haitham Al-Khatib(35), a cameraman for B'Tselem, was wounded by a tear gas canister in his right foot, in addition to dozens of cases of suffocation in the weekly march organized by the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Bil'in. Luisa Morgantini, a Member of European Parliament, participated along with dozens of Palestinians in addition to dozens of international activists and Israeli peace activists. A delegation of Italian solidarity activists and a French delegation were also in attendance.
The march began after Friday prayers from the center of the village heading to the land that was liberated, specifically a natural reserve, The participants chanted during the march calling for the end of the occupation and destruction of the apartheid wall. They raised Palestinian flags and a large banner that read 'Stay human' and was painted with the image of the famous Italian solidarity Vittorio Arrigoni who was killed in Gaza. As the marchers walked along the concrete wall they hung the flags on the barbed wire around the wall.
For their part, Israeli soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas at demonstrators, which caused the injury of several demonstrators and the destruction of dozens of olive trees as a result of the fire that broke out in the fields adjacent to the wall. Settlers from the settlement Mitatyaho Mzrah, which is built on the territory of the village of Bil'in behind the wall, came under the protection of Israeli soldiers while chanting anti-Palestinian slogans and obscene phrases.
The delegation from the Jerusalem Conference, including the head secretary general Hisham Tallawy, visited Bi'lin this morning and was met by members of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements. Tallawy was then escorted on a tour of the land which was liberated. He listened to a detailed explanation by the Committee of the achievements that have been realized during seven years of popular resistance and the violations practiced by the occupying army against the people of Bil'in during these years and continues to this day.
In positive news, on 20/7/2011 the occupying forces released Ashraf al-Khatib (31) after he spent eight months in the prisons of the occupation.

One citizen was injured in addition to dozens of participant were suffered resulting of inhalation tear gas in the weekly demonstration in Bil'in.

Iyad bornat(38)years was injuredin his right leg by tear gas canister, in addition to  dozens of demonstrators were subject to suffocation do to Israeli forces launching tear gas canisters at them following their arrival in the area adjacent to the barrier build on Bil'in's land.

The march called for by the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Bil'in began after Friday prayer. Participants gathered in front of the mosque and moved through the village towards the liberated territory adjacent to the barrier where villagers and their supporters have been cleaning and rebuilding. The people of Bil'in, along with dozens of international and Israeli activists, raised Palestinian flags and banners of the various national factions while chanting slogans demanding the demolition of the wall and an end to the occupation. Upon the arrival of the participants to the area next to the barrier Israeli soldiers fired tear gas at them in an attempt to prevent them from working the land and moving forward with the process of reclamation.

A group of settlers living in Mitataaho Zrah, an illegal settlement built on territory belonging to Bil'in, gathered and chanted racist slogans against Palestinians. They remained under the protection of the Israeli soldiers while doing this.

Friday 8-7-2011 Complementing its resistance against the occupation , Bil'in began the work of reconstruction in the liberated territory after the removal of the wall.

Confirming the continuation of resistance and popular struggle, the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Bil'in organized the march toward the liberated territory. They participated along with the people of Bil'in, dozens of international activists, and Israelis.
The march began in front of the village mosque after Friday prayers ended. It proceeded in the direction of the liberated territory, where participants raised Palestinian flags and yellow flags of Fatah. Participants chanted slogans and chants of patriotism.

Upon their arrival the participants began work cleaning and removing thorns and stones from the ground in preparation to start the reconstruction phase. This includes the repair of the territory as well as preservation from attacks by settlers.
It is noteworthy that the settlers from the settlement Mitatyaho Mzrah, which is built illegally on Bil’in’s land and adjacent to the recently liberated land, marched this morning asking that the citizens of Bil’in not be allowed to access their reclaimed land. However, the occupying army used their strength to disperse the settlers.

The day of victory: Bil'in celebrates the removal of the wall

 

After they reached the protected area, they built the first house there after the removal of the wall. After many years of not seeing any big groups of Palestinians so close to their residence, the inhabitants of the nearby illegal settlement were watching the celebration and the building of the first house with great attention and surprise. The people of Bil'in are now planning to built more houses, in order to protect the land from the greed of the occupation and the settlers.

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For the first time after nearly seven years of resistance and struggle of the residents of Bil'in, the people of the village and a large number of participants from neighboring villages could hold the Friday prayer on the land that has been retrieved 2 days ago. Also many Palestinian leaders, including: Abbas Zaki, member of the Central Committee of Fatah, Qais Abu Laila, member of the Democratic Front, Hisham Abu Raya, member of the Palestinian Liberation Front, Fadwa Barghouti, member of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah and many of the leaders and supporters of the Palestinian national movement, as well as dozens of international activists and Israelis joined the celebration.

The Sheik spoke the Friday prayer and held a speech for the brave people of Bil'in, praising the strength of their will and their attachment to their land, shown by their resistance to the occupation army. He added that the land can only be retrieved through resistance, patience and faith in the complete victory. He also praised the foreign assistance and continuous support for the Palestinian cause.
After the prayer, the participants in the march went to have a huge celebration in the natural reserve of Abu Lemon, waving Palestinian flags and banners of the various factions, and singing national songs to express their joy about the victory and the big dream to end the occupation of all Palestinian territories.
In a speech, Abbas Zaki, member of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement encouraged the people of Bil'in and praised their heroic struggle during the past seven years. This victory was the result of the sacrifices made by the people of Bil'in, he said.