Apartheid Wall Protest in Bil'in, West Bank, Palestine, 12/24/10: photos

On December 24th, 2010, Palestinians, along with a small number of Israelis and internationals, marched out of the village of Bil'in in the West Bank to protest the Israeli apartheid wall. This weekly Friday demonstration has occurred since 2005, organized by the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee. Being Christmas Eve, the protest this Friday featured several Santas who tossed out candies to children as the demonstration began in the center of the village and then rang bells throughout the march to the wall. This week, the bulk of the march made it to the wall before Israeli Defense Forces began dispersing noxious tear gas and stun grenades. Shortly thereafter soldiers made their way through the fence and slowly advanced toward the edge of Bil'in, threatening the use of rubber bullets several times as they moved forward.

Pictured below is the huge Modi'in Illit settlement and the apartheid wall below it which is intended to separate the settlement from Bil'in and other nearby Palestinian villages.