Children demonstrate against night raids; that night israeli forces storm village, arrest man

Sept. 2, 2005 report:

At 12:15 p.m., soldiers marched into the center of the village in riot gear and helmets...At first, little boys danced and sang in front of them, jumping up and down as the soldiers hung around under the trees looking frustrated.

One small boy had a toy machine gun that made noise... a soldier told the father he couldn’t go home if the boy had the toy gun. The father said, “But it’s his.” “If I see him on the street with that gun, I’ll shoot him,” was the soldier’s response.

Children's demo Bil'in, August 8, 2009
Bilin-FFJ
Today, the first nonviolent demonstration for the children of Bil'in took place to protest against the night raids and the many arrests of young boys in the village. They carried banners and chanted slogans like "We want to sleep," "No more night raids," "Let us live," "We want Peace," and so on. The children lead the demonstration toward the Apartheid Wall with villagers and Palestinian and international activists following them. At the Wall they were met by two soldiers only who were on regular duty at the Wall.

Arrived at the Wall, the children continued their chanting as the soldiers watched. Two Jeeps arrived with reinforcement. Noticing that the gate, which leads to the green line and gives access to the Wall, was open, five soldiers came through the door of the Wall to close it shut while the children chanted into their faces and activists challenged them about arresting children. They asked them whether they were ever thinking about what they were doing. Once the gate was shut, the occupation forces retreated.

The children and the protesters gathered at the Wall for a while placing their posters and flags at the gate. Seeing all the children, the occupation forces refrained from firing any tear gas or ammunition. They simply told everyone to go back. Eventually, everyone returned to the village. Full story

Israeli forces invade Bili'n, detain Popular Committee organizer

Israeli soldiers detain Abu Rahmeh - more photos

Ma'an
The Israeli forces raided the village of Bil’in and seized Vice President of the Village Council and member of the Popular Committee against the Wall, 48-year-old Muhammad Ibrahim Abu Rahmeh on Thursday morning.

An infantry division stormed the man’s house only hours after a children’s demonstration walked toward soldiers guarding the separation barrier which weekly protests target, and chanted to soldiers, “We want to sleep," "Stop the night raids."

Abu Rahmeh’s home was invaded shortly before 2am, ending with his arrest. His son 14-year-old son Nashmi Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Rahmeh was arrested on 15 August.

According to reports from the popular committee, about 25 soldiers with painted faces entered the village, and threw sound bombs at international activists who have remained in the village to witness the night raids. Internationals attempted to intervene and demand Abu Rahmeh’s release, but were physically assaulted as they approached. Reports said soldiers knocked one woman to the ground and pulled the hair of another.

A Palestinian cameraman’s equipment was destroyed, as he attempted to document the scene... Full story