Protesters throw shoes at Israeli occupation soldiers near Ramallah

Date: 19 / 12 / 2008  Time:  15:18
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

Four Israeli soldiers were reported injured along with eight protesters and two journalists at an anti-wall demonstration in the West Bank village of Bil’in, near Ramallah.

A statement from the protest group claimed that demonstrators marched after Friday prayers, carrying Palestinian flags and banners calling for an end to the Israeli occupation. During the event, two journalists were injured by rubber-coated bullets along with six others, the group claimed.

Meanwhile, Israeli sources were reporting on Friday afternoon that four soldiers had been injured during the same event, although the reports were non-specific.

According to a statement from the groups organizing the event, protesters carried signs with pictures of George W. Bush dodging shoes thrown from an Iraqi reporter in Baghdad earlier this week. Protestors also carried shows in protest of the Israeli occupation, the statement said.

When soldiers fired teargas canisters toward the crowd, participants reportedly began throwing shoes toward the Israeli army stationed behind cement blocks.

Among the injured were two journalists, one Israeli and one Palestinian, who were shot by rubber-coated bullets. The Palestinian journalist was identified as Issam Al-Rimawi, of Wafa Media.

Two injured protestors were taken to Al-Shaikh Zaid Hospital in Ramallah, identified as Mohammad Abu Rahma and Basem Abu Rahma.

Others were treated in the village: Adeed Abu Rahma, Sabri Abu Rahma, Jehad Al-Hajj and Muhammed Imran.

The Israeli High Court accepted an appeal by the residents of Bil'in on Wednesday against the route of the Israeli-constructed separation wall, which they had claimed was confiscating farmland from the village.

The court ruled that Israeli authorities should change the path of the wall, according to a 4 July 2007 High Court decision, and that the Israeli government pay a fine of NIS 10,000 for past damage.

Bil'in: Israeli Occupation Army Attacks the Weekly Protest Injuring at Lest 10 People, including Journalists

Friday December 19, 2008 16:23 by IMEMC Staff - IMEMC News

In Bil'in village near Ramallah city, central West Bank, demonstrators marched today after the Friday prayer carrying Palestinian flags and banners calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the building of the apartheid wall, illegal settlement expansion, land confiscation, settler attacks, closures and roadblocks, and the release of all 11,000 plus detainees.

The demonstration was joined by internationals and Israeli activists. Members of the Peoples' Struggle Front also joined the protest today and carried banners. Today’s theme was the Iraqi journalist and the shoes he threw at outgoing US President George W Bush. Demonstrators carried shoes along with damning pictures and words of Bush and his allies Olmert, Barak and Sharon.

Beginning in the village of Bil’in, the march moved through the streets, and the demonstrators rang out chants rejecting US foreign policy and life under Israeli occupation. When the group of demonstrators and Palestinians turned toward the apratheid wall, in an attempt to cross into Palestinian land, Israeli soldiers waited behind concrete blocks.

From there the Israeli occupaiton soldiers began firing tear gas canisters and rubber-coated steel bullets. Demonstrators responded to these attacks by throwing their shoes at the army.  Dozens of people suffered injuries from the gas while eight were shot. Two journalists were hit, including WAFA photographer Issam Al-Rimawi.  Also, among the wounded from the bullets was a 15 year old Palestinian child who is currently receiving treatment in Ramallah’s Shaikh Zaid Hospital.