Anti-fence rally in Bilin (Archive photo)
Photo: Reuters
Troops, protesters hurt in anti-fence rally
Confrontations erupt during weekly anti-West Bank security fence rally in Palestinian village of Bilin, west of Ramallah. Palestinian sources say three Israelis arrested during rally, adding that protesters sustained injuries from tear gas inhalation, rubber
Four IDF soldiers and eight protesters sustained light injuries Friday during confrontations that erupted during the weekly anti-West Bank security fence rally in the Palestinian village of Bilin, west of Ramallah.
The soldiers were hurt from stones hurled at them by Palestinian and left-wing activists. Palestinian sources said three Israelis were arrested during the rally, adding that some of the protesters were injured from tear gas inhalation, while others were struck by rubber bullets.
Prior to the rally police forces patrolling the Kiryat Sefer area stopped a bus carrying some 50 left-wing protesters who were making their way to the rally; the bus was turned back to Tel –Aviv. However, rally organizers said several activists managed to make it to the demonstration.
Meanwhile in Bilin, pianist Yaakov Allegro, a Dutch Holocaust survivor who traveled to Israel to attend rally, was playing a number of pieces in protest of the security fence and as a show of solidarity with the local Palestinians.
“I sympathize with all those who suffer from injustice,” he said.
“This is why I came to play in front of the IDF’s bulldozers.”
'Soldiers acted with restraint'
Allegro was then transferred by truck to the scene of the demonstration, along the segment of the security fence that runs near Bilin. However, as soon as he began to play the piano soldiers ordered that he return to the village along with the rest of the demonstrators.
According to the protesters, the IDF also detained Muhammad Hatib of the Bilin Popular Committee against the Wall; the soldiers said they would release him only if the demonstrators would retreat to the village, the organizers said.
Hatib was eventually released, but demonstrators said that on the way back to the village the soldiers began to chase them while firing rubber bullets, as well as stun and tear gas grenades at them.
An IDF source said, “The soldiers acted with restraint, but the dozens of young Palestinians chose not to abide by the agreements. Therefore, after the demonstrators hurled stones at the soldiers for an hour and used slingshots against them, the troops were forced to Crowd-dispersal apparatus.”
