Even before the rally began, its organizers pledged to bring many protestors in honor of the fifth anniversary of the village residents' struggle against the fence.
Palestinians reported that during the rally they had managed to take control of a military post in the area, but army officials explained that the facility was only used as a canopy for the security forces.
The rally was also attended by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and politicians Mustafa Barghouti and Taysir Khalid.
The wives of Palestinian prisoners Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat were also present.
Fayyad and the other leaders said they support the popular struggle, and urged the international community to intervene and have the fence removed.
Dismantling part of fence on Friday (Photo: Activestills)
Defense establishment officials said this wasn't the first time the fence in the area had sustained damage, and that the damage caused by protestors in 2009 was estimated at NIS 400 million (about $107 million).
About 10 days ago, measurements commenced ahead of the anticipated changes in the route of a 1.7 kilometer (about a mile) section of the West Bank security barrier, which was built on land belonging to the village of Bilin.
It is estimated that it will be some time before the actual paving of the new route begins.
In 2007 the High Court of Justice ordered the State to partially dismantle and rebuild the fence so that it would not cut through Bilin. The barrier has been the focus of weekly demonstrations in the village for the past five years.
Efrat Weiss contributed to this report