For over two years, Palestinians in the West Bank village of Bil’in have been non-violently resisting Israel’s illegal annexation of their land. Yesterday they were joined as usual by Israeli and international supporters, including Tom and several other people from Brighton, as they began their march to the Apartheid Wall, which is being built a short walk from their village.

Before the demonstration reached the wall the Israeli Army started firing tear gas, saturating the olive groves, and the rubber coated bullets. It is thought that fourteen protesters were injured. A medic from the Palestinian Red Crescent was shot in the stomach, and another local man was shot in the groin. A visitor from France was shot by a tear gas canister at close range and sustained severe burns.

Tom, after being treated by the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance, said:

“This violent attack by the Israeli Army on peaceful unarmed demonstrators is unbelievable. The people of this village have had their land stolen, their olive trees uprooted, and their livelihoods devastated. By daring to protest against this injustice they are met with aggression and violence. This has made me more determined than ever to support them, and other people in Palestine, in their struggle for their land, their country, and their freedom.”

Tom was with several other people from Brighton, who are in Palestine as part of a delegation organised by Brighton Tubas Friendship Group. On of the delegation, Richard Johnson, aged 76 yrs, who was with him said:

“I was really upset to see Tom shot, but amazed by the persistence, resilience and enterprise of the local demonstrators. After the Army shot tear gas and rubber bullets, they reformed time and time again to try to finish their protest. Whilst I was on the demonstration I heard about a local man from the village whowas so badly beaten by the Israeli Army last night that he had three vertebrae broken. The Israeli Army then went to his house and shot his wife in front of his 15 children. Such behaviour is barbaric.I am proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Bil’in today and absolutely support them in their struggle.”

The Brighton delegation have spent the last week in the Tubas region of Palestine, staying with local families and meeting hundreds of people from the local community. They have witnessed the pressures that local people are under and made plans to foster grassroots links between individuals and organisations in Tubas and Brighton

They have met with Tubas Women’s Group, the Palestinian Red Crescent Health Centre, local farmer’s cooperatives, a youth group, Al Quds Open University in Tubas and local schools - bringing letters and donations from children at the Supplementary Arabic School in Brighton. They aim to build lasting links between Brighton and Tubas region in Palestine.

On returning they will hold a photographic exhibition and give eye witness accounts at a public meeting at the Friends Meeting House, Ship Street on 3rd May at 7:30 pm. They will also meet with other local people and groups that have supported this initiative including Brighton Amnesty International and Brighton and Hove City Council Unison branch.

Bil’in is a Palestinian village that is struggling to exist. Since early 2005, the state of Israel has annexed close to 60% of Bil’in’s land for Israeli settlements and for the construction of Israel’s Apartheid Wall. Palestinians from Bil’in are fighting to safeguard their land, their people, and their liberty. The Israeli army has consistently responded to Bil’in’s non-violent demonstrations with teargas, sound bombs, clubs, rubber-coated steel bullets, and live ammunition.

ENDS

To speak to the Brighton delegation in Palestine phone:

Tom Hayes / Richard Johnson 00972 526012203 (Palestine)

Sarah Cobham 07984438655 (Brighton)

To read the full report from one of the Brighton representatives on the demonstration see his blog at:  http://brightonpalestine.org/blog/?p=108#more-108

To see video by Tom of the Bil’in Demonstration on 6th April see: tp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M7eTUZikWk