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Palestinin Village of Bil'in Celebrated Four Years of Stuggle Against the Apartheid Wall

by Eric Blair
On February 20th the Palestinian Village of Bil'in celebrated four years of weekly protests against the Apartheid Wall.
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The village of Bil'in has fought for four years against the Apartheid Wall. The wall steals much of the villagers land and is part of the Israeli plan to smash Palestine into tiny pieces. For the anniversary many villagers, journalists, foreign and Israeli activists and even politicians came. The day started with prayers in the mosque. There was a march of over 500 people to the Wall. The Apartheid barrier is called the Wall but in this location it is made up of two rows of razor wire, a trench, two fences and an access road. The fence not only takes up a swath of Palestinian land but allows soldiers to control access to the land on the other side at all times. We marched to the Wall, fence and several people opened a gate. The soldiers were ready on the other side and fired tear gas. May people ran away but others moved closer. The soldiers do not have gas masks and thus do not use gas too close. Many people argued with the soldiers in a diversity of languages. Finally they threw enough tear gas that everyone was driven back. Young men and boys then used slings to throw stones at the soldiers. At the end of the day the soldiers used a contraption that fires 64 tear gas canisters at once. This drove off many people but a few stayed to throw more stones.

For more information see:
http://www.awalls.org/protest_and_resistance_in_bil_in_and_ni_ilin
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by Eric Blair
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Marchers of many Palestinian parties head for the Wall.
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A view of the Wall. It is made up of rolls of razor wire, a trench, fences and a road.
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A Palestinian on an electrical pole.
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Protesters open a gate in the Wall.
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Soldiers behind the Wall.
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The march arrives at the Wall.
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Soldiers fire tear gas at the march.
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A Palestinian makes it to the last fence before being overcome by gas.
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An Israeli activist suffers a bad burn after throwing back a tear gas grenade.
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Israeli soldiers, one with a tear gas grenade in his hand ready to throw.
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Israeli soldiers.
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A villager shouts at the soldiers.
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One soldier readies a tear gas grenade while the soldier second from left has a gun that shoots rubber bullets.
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A Palestinian slinger throws a rock at the soldiers.
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A slinger runs toward the fence and soldiers.
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He throws his rock at the soldiers.
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Soldiers fire tear gas to scare off most of the remaining marchers.
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A young slinger throws a stone at the soldiers behind the fence.
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A Palestinian woman heads home after the demonstration.
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