[For further information, particularly to speak to the UK victims (who are
both from Glasgow), please also telephone 00972547239986 (Palestine) or
07973763958 (UK contact). The UK national mentioned below, Margaret, had a
sound bomb smash into her elbow, penetrating the skin and causing bleeding
and severe bruising. She has also sustained penetrating wounds to the leg
and foot, both bleeding. Israeli Military smashed their batons into the legs
of the other UK national present. He was severely beaten, is badly bruised,
limping and in considerable pain. A sound bomb also exploded near Margaret,
leaving her deaf in one ear.]

PRESS RELEASE FROM INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT

Israeli Military Brutally Attacks Protestors in Bil'in Village

August 11th, 2006

For more information:
Abudullah Abu Rahma: 054 725 8210
Mohammed Khatib 054 557 3285

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today, August 11, the Israeli army and Border Police brutally prevented
Bil'in's weekly non-violent demonstration, by firing rubber bullets and
sound grenades on protestors as they marched through the village on their
way to the Apartheid wall. Thirteen people from Bil'in, Israelis and
internationals, have been injured, including an Israeli in critical
condition who was shot just above his right ear with a rubber bullet at
close range. He is now going into surgery at Tel Hashomer hospital to remove
the rubber bullet that is lodged in his skull. Another demonstrator from
Denmark has suffered a fracture in her skull after a soldier beat her with
the butt of his gun.

The demonstrators marched through the village carrying coffins representing
the children who have been killed by the Israeli army in order to protest
their "New Style of Killing". The border police and army were stationed
along the route of the march that leads to the Apartheid Wall, where the
demonstrations usually take place. The military began firing when the
protestors were less than 50 meters away, immediately causing many injuries.

The violence began so early that the ambulance (usually present at the
demonstrations in case of injuries) had not yet arrived. At first the
Israeli army would not let the protestors evacuate the Israeli who was shot
in the head, and was suffering from blood loss. Eventually the soldiers took
him in an army ambulance to Tel Hashomer hospital in Tel Aviv.

The soldiers then chased after the protestors and beat them as they were
retreating, causing more injuries. Soldiers detained Jonathon Pollack, a
prominent Israeli supporter and later released him. The army claimed that it
was an "illegal demonstration" despite the fact that the Israeli Court ruled
that Bil'in has a right to hold demonstrations.

This is a list of those injured at the Bil'in demonstration today, Friday
11th Aug.

An Israeli, shot with 3 rubber bullets at close range, with injuries to head
and neck. He is currently undergoing surgery.
Two villagers, El Haj Wa'el Fahene and Nimer Mustafa Abu Rahma were both
shot with rubber bullets to their backs and legs.
Gavin from UK, beaten
Martin from Sweden, beaten
Rina from Denmark, hit with a rifle butt on side of head
Jonathon from Israel, shot with rubber bullet
Uri a 20 year old from Israel, struck by rubber bullet
Rojo Didier from France (43 years old), shot with rubber bullet in back and
leg
Jonas from USA, struck with rubber bullets on hip and leg
Cheryl aged 45 from USA, struck with rubber bullet to the back
Margaret from UK, struck by exploding sound grenade
Yoshki, a 22 year old journalist from Japan, shot by rubber bullet

It is likely that an official complaint will be made to the Israeli
authorities about the violent behaviour of the soldiers.

For more information:
Abudullah Abu Rahma: 054 725 8210
Mohammed Khatib 054 557 3285

 http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2006/08/11/bilin-4/

Margaret's own eyewitness report:

"So we met up again at Billin this morning for the demonstration, the same
one where John and I received injuries last week and decided this week we
were also going to do the CAN CAN once we reached the fence. This is where
the soldiers are waiting on us.

The theme of the demonstration this week was approx 10 of us would walk in
the front line carrying bodies of dead people and dead children. So we all
headed towards the fence where the soldiers were waiting carrying our sacks
covered in red paint to represent the dead when we turned the corner to find
the Military blocking the road. As we marched towards them they suddenly
started throwing sound bombs at us and firing rubber bullets. Some of us ran
to the side and some ran to the back. I was standing next to a Spanish
activist who I know well, I spent time with her here the last time I was in
Nablus and a sound bomb went off right in between us. Her and I have both
lost hearing and there is a ringing sensation in both our ears. Two minutes
later a sound bomb smashed into my elbow which actually broke the skin and
my arm was bleeding.

I was split from some of the group who were trying to take shelter behind
some bricks, when the Israeli Army started firing at them. We went to sit in
front of the army jeeps and the Israeli Army came with their batons and
started attacking the Internationals brutally, smashing peoples legs and my
dear friend was hit on the head.

I am waiting to find out how many people were injured, this was a very
brutal demonstration on the Israeli Army's part. One young Israeli boy was
hit at extreme close range with a steel bullet coated in rubber at his head
and also his neck.

A friend from Scotland was also there and she gave first aid. She told me
that his skull was fractured very, very badly.

All I could see was people either being carried, or supported with blood
running down their leg, arm and still the bullets and sound bombs were being
fired.

This again was extreme force on a peaceful demonstration. As we walked
towards them they used their brute force. Who is the terrorist?

We never of course got the chance to do the Can Can, but of course there
will be another chance.

One of the young boys from our Campaign was hit quite badly by the Israelies
baton as well. They were sitting down peacefully when the Israeli Army took
out their batons and smashed them into peoples heads, bodies and legs.

I keep thinking what people say to us on the stall 'THE ISRAELI ARMY ARE THE
MOST MORAL ARMY IN THE WORLD'

The Israeli Army are the most cowardly army I have witnessed. They shoot
innocent people on the back when they are walking away, they smash their
batons into people sitting down. As people walk towards them they open fire
on them.

This is Palestinian land we are talking about here.

I am afraid I vented my anger on a lady who was there and she told me that
the Army there were just very frightened. I could not believe it, she
witnessed the brutality, saw the injured people with blood running down
their arms, legs and bodies and still tried to justify the bruality they
used.

It is very difficult to constantly witness what the occupation is doing here
and not feel a real hatred for the Israeli people, you need to constantly
remember yourself it is a bit like Tony Blair, do not hate the British
people because of him.

My last words are that today we had the most fantastic sight, there must
have been approx 50 plus Israeli Activists came to the demonstration today
and I very proudly stood beside them."