Israeli Terrorist Forces Injure 10 Protesters at Ni'lin Anti-Wall Protest and Al-khalil, Kidnap 4, Two Fighters Killed in Juhr Al-Deek

Israeli terrorist forces shoot four protesters at Ni’lin anti-wall demonstration

Date: 21 / 02 / 2009  Time:  13:50
Ramallah – Ma’an –

Four protesters were injured in clashes that followed a peaceful demonstration against the illegal Israeli Land-Grab, Apartheid Wall in the West Bank city of Ni’lin on Friday.

The demonstration proceeded from the village towards the lands that are slated to be confiscated by the Israeli barrier. Israeli terrorist forces used tear gas on the demonstrators, dozens of whom were mildly suffocated from inhaling the gas. Four were shot with live ammunition.

According to witnesses, clashes between stone-throwing Palestinian youths and Israeli terrorist soldiers raged late into the night throughout the town and on the main street.

Israeli terrorist forces also closed roads leading to the village, with military jeeps deployed in the southern area near the town. Following this, demonstrators threw rocks at the cars of passing Israeli settlers.

A member of Ni’lin’s anti-wall Popular Committee, Salah Al-Kahwajah, said “this protest in solidarity with Bilin that commemorated the fourth anniversary of its peaceful anti- wall rally which we in Ni’lin, Bil’in, Ma’asarah and Jayous use as a method of resistance that should be turned into a national strategy to resist occupation.”

Israeli terrorist forces kidnap Palestinian at Al-Hamra checkpoint; hundreds denied passage

Date: 21 / 02 / 2009  Time:  09:37
Jenin – Ma’an –

 Israeli terrorist forces on Saturday kidnapped a young Palestinian man at Al-Hamra checkpoint in the northern Jordan Valley and denied hundreds of others passage through the checkpoint.

Eyewitnesses named the abductee as Hamdan Besharat from the northern West Bank village of Tammoan, south of Nablus.

Witnesses told Ma’an via telephone that more than 500 people were stopped at Al-Hamra checkpoint and denied passage in or out. Soldiers took the ID cards of some people which means they can no longer travel through any Israeli military checkpoint.

The witnesses asserted that Israeli terrorist troops treated people harshly forcing them to move from under trees where they had taken shelter from heavy rain.

Israeli terrorist forces kidnap three Palestinians in Qalqilia

Date: 21 / 02 / 2009  Time:  09:33
Qalqilia – Ma’an –

Israeli terrorist forces on Friday morning kidnapped three Palestinians from their homes in the Qalqilia district of the West Bank.

Palestinian sources identified the abductees as Muhammad Inaya, Muhammad As-Sarawi, and Ali Barham. The sources said Israeli soldiers vandalized the interior of each house during the raids.

Fayyad joins protesters at weekly march against Israeli wall

Date: 20 / 02 / 2009  Time:  19:57
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad visited the village of Bil’in on Friday, joining prayer services and expressing his solidarity with residents there.

This visit was also times to join residents for their fourth anniversary, which marked the the birth of the Popular Struggle Against the illegal Israeli Land-Grab, Apartheid Wall.

Fayad expressed his support to the village and its residents, who have carried out a struggle during the past four years against the wall there. He reiterated his support for the village in its continuous efforts against the Israeli  occupation government and its terrorist forces.

Meanwhile, party members and supporters of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) celebrated the 40th anniversary of its founding on Friday.

Representatives from many national parties also joined the event, including members of the Fatah Party, the Palestinian National Initiative, the National Palestinian Struggle, members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), including Moheeb Awad, Walid Assaf, Qayis Abu Layla, and Mostafa Al-Bargouthi.

Two members of the Israeli Knesset made appearances, as well, Mohammed Bakri and Afo Ighbariya from the Israeli Hadash Party.

International and Israeli peace activists joined the event, which coincided the a major protest against the wall, in solidarity. Members of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Ni’lin joined the protest, as well.

Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and carried banners condemning violence against civilians and the building of the wall and settlement, especially in Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley. The protest also called for national unity and defense of Palestinians’ national rights.

Demonstrators left from the center of the village and headed toward what they called the Apartheid Wall, which is built on Bil'in's land.

An Israeli terrorist army unit was situated behind the wall and prevented the crowd from going through the gate by firing tear gas canisters, causing dozens to suffer gas inhalation. Five were injured, including Mohammed Adeeb Abu Rahmah, Mohammed Nabil Abu Rahmah, Abed Al-Qader Abu Rahmeh, Isamail Abu Rahmah, and Omer Al Tamimi.

In a statement, the Popular Committee said it appreciated the efforts of protesters and solidarity groups, particularly medical crews from the Red Crescent and Medical Relief Committee for “their great help with injuries today and throughout the past four years.”

The Israeli military invaded the village twice on Thursday, first just after noon, when they set up a checkpoint in the center of the village, stopping residents from passing through. Palestinian youth responded by throwing stones.

The terrorist army left for a few hours but returned later that night, firing teargas and percussion grenades “in an attempt to terrify the residents and spread fear,” according to the group.

The Israeli terrorist army has continuously raided the village, usually at night, for the past several days “in an effort to break the people’s spirit for continuing their struggle against the wall and settlements on their land,” the Popular Committee said.

Four injured at Nil'in weekly protest

Friday February 20, 2009 18:13 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

scores of villagers from Nil'in, located near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, on Friday midday, held their weekly protest against the illegal Israeli wall being built on the village's land.

At noon, the Palestinians and other international and Israeli demonstrators held Friday prayers near the village lands, and then proceeded to march towards the land being confiscated by Israel.

Demonstrators carried banners calling for national unity and demanded an end to the Israeli occupation.  

As soon as locals and their international supporters arrived to the village where Israel is building the wall, soldiers showered them with tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. four were treated for gas inhalation.

Fourth anniversary of Bil'in's weekly protest: Dozens suffered teargas inhalation and five Injured

Friday February 20, 2009 18:08 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

The residents of Bil’in, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah,  gathered today after the Friday prayer to mark the fourth anniversary of the struggle against the construction of the wall and expanding settlements. Party members and supporters of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) also celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr. Salam Fayad, visited the village of Bil’in today joining the Friday prayer. This visit comes in solidarity with the residents in their 4th anniversary marking the popular struggle against the wall.  

Mr. Fayad expressed his support to the village and the residents who have been struggling the past four years against the wall. He also supports the village and it's efforts to continue until the end of the occupation.  

Representatives from many of the national parties also joined the protest, along with members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), including Moheeb Awad, Walid Assaf, Qayis Abu Layla and Mostafa Al Barqiti.  International and Israeli peace activists joined the protest in solidarity with Palestine.  A member of the Popular Committee against the wall in Ni’lin also joined the protest.  

Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and carried banners condemning the violence against civilians, the construction of the wall and the expanding settlements, especially in Jerusalem and the Jordan valley. The protest also called for national unity and defense of Palestinian national and human rights.  

The protest left the center of the village and headed towards the annexation wall, which is built on Bil'in's land.  An Israeli Army unit was situated behind the wall to prevent the crowd from going through the gate.  Israeli soldiers firied tear gas canisters, causing dozens to suffer gas inhalation.  Five demonstraters were injured, including Mohammed Adeeb Abu Rahmah, Mohammed Nabil Abu Rahmah, Abed Al qader Abu Rahmeh, Isamail Abu Rahmah, and Omer Al Tamimi.    

The Israeli Army invaded the village twice yesterday.  In the afternoon, they reached the center of the village and set up a checkpoint stopping people from passing through. Some youth from the village responded by throwing stones. The Israelis left, but returned later that night and fired teargas and sound bombs inside the village in an attempt to terrify the residents, and spread fear.

The Israeli Army has been continuously raiding the village, mostly at night, for the last few days in order to break the people’s spirit in continuing their struggle against the construction of the wall and the expansion of illegal settlements on their land.