“Our peaceful towns should no longer be the graveyard of our youth”

Basem Abu Rahma (In yellow) when hit by a high velocity gas canister

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Ramallah, 17-04-09: This afternoon the Israeli army killed Basem Abu Rahma, 25, in the village of Bi’lin, West of Ramallah. Abu Rahma was , hit by a high velocity gas canister in his chest, during a peaceful demonstration aginst the Wall Israel is building around the village.

“I saw Basem, who was wearing a yellow football T-shirt, being hit and collapsing on the ground”, reported Palestine Monitor’s photographer in Bil’in.

MP Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, The Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative expressed shock “For four years, the residents of Bi’lin have been peacefully resisting the building of the Apartheid Wall, every single Friday.”

“This, represent the Palestinian commitment to the non-violence principles and their steadfastness. Palestinian and International youths are peacefully struggling, but our towns where such demonstrations take place can no longer be the graveyards of our youths”, Barghouthi said.

“By constantly defying non-violence and responding with an overwhelming use of force, the Israeli army is aiming to provoke Palestinian violence and launch the aggression circle”, he added firmly.

In similar incidents this year, the Israeli army killed 4 Palestinian children and teenagers in the nearby village of Ni’lim, as well as critically injuring an American peace activist. “Most of the time, our people are hit with prohibited live-bullets or rubber-coated bullets being shot at a too close range, or lately by high velocity gas canister such as today. This is beyond every international rules”, said Dr. Barghouthi.

MP Barghouthi called on the International community to consider today’s incident as an ‘ultimate wake up call’. “It is urgent to pressure the Israeli right-wing government to stop the daily aggression on our people and youths.”

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

The gas canister (centre) is similar to the one that killed Basem today in Bil’in

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Press Release by the Bil’in Popular Committee

Bassem Aburahma killed in Bilin weekly protests

Bil’in Marks Palestinian Prisoners’ Day during its Weekly Demonstration

Basem Ibraheem Abo Rahmeh killed Bilin weekly protest. He is shot with new kind of tear gaz canisters (The Rocket). He was shot in his chest which lead to his death immediately. He participated in the weekly protest and was standing in the other side of the wall, and was shouting at the soldiers “we are in a nonviolent protest, there are kids and internationals” he couldn’t continue his scrim and was shot. He was transferred to Ramallah governmental hospital, but he was dead. The funeral will be tomorrow in the village of Bilin at 1:00 pm.

Following Friday prayers in Bil’in today, residents held a protest in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on Prisoners’ Day. The demonstration was joined by the Israeli Anarchists Against the Wall and international activists from Belgium. The crowd marched towards the wall carrying Palestinian flags and posters calling for the release of all prisoners, especially bodies of prisoners who have died in prisons still held by the Israeli government. Protesters wore symbolic handcuffs in solidarity.

The protest was also joined by family members of prisoners. The families marched holding photos of their relatives who are in prison. The protesters expressed that the wall, settlements and Israeli-only roads in the West Bank and the ongoing siege on Gaza create cantons for Palestinians that amount to de facto prisons. Posters were also carried to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the murder of Abu Jihad and the 7th year since the arrest of political prisoner Marwan Al-Barghouti.

As soon the protest reached the wall, an Israeli army, stationed behind the wall since early morning, prevented the crowd from going through the gate. The army fired tear gas canisters to disturb the crowd, causing dozens to suffer gas inhalation and and the martyr of Basem Abo Rahmeg.

The Popular Committee Against the Wall in Bil’in stated their frustration with the ongoing and violent Israeli policies against protesters. The committee also called for Palestinians to organize demonstrations to support the threatened residents of Jerusalem and for the protection of the holy sites. Finally, the committee announces an open invitation for the 4th Annual International Conference on Non-Violent Resistance in Bil’in April 22nd to 24th, 2009.

Contacts:
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi: 0599/ 201 528 or: 0599/ 940 073