"Soldiers, listen! You are not defending Israel's security by being here. The Wall can be moved back a few kilometres, restoring to the Bil'in villagers their land, without causing any harm" said former Knesset member Uri Avnery of Gush Shalom (The Israeli Peace Bloc), addressing by megaphone the Israeli Army soldiers confronting peace demonstrators at the West Bank village of Bil'in. Avnery, who takes part in the protest on the spot, climbed a rock from which he made a speech in Hebrew, specifically aimed at the soldiers guarding the "Separation Fence/Wall" opposite. "Soldiers, there is only one real reason why you are being sent here week after week, to attack the inhabitants of Bil'in and sprinkle them with tear gas. You are here to defend the profits of settler real estate sharks, multi- millionaires who want to accumulate many more millions. These lands which were stolen from the inhabitants of Bil'in have become a very lucrative piece of real estate. These sharks want to extend onto them the ultra-Orthodox settlement of Modi'in Ilit and make enormous profits. Here, you are not serving in the Israeli defence Forces. You are serving in the Settler defence Forces and the Real Estate Defence Forces" called Avnery at the soldiers. During his speech there was a pause in the shooting of tear gas and water cannon and the soldiers listened attentively.

Confrontations on the spot started at about 1.00 pm, when military forces opened up with tear gas canisters and powerful water cannon at many hundreds of Israeli, Palestinian and international demonstrators who approached the "Separation Fence". Some demonstrators were wounded and they are being treated on the spot by Dr. Mustafa Bargouthi, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council who was a Presidential candidate at the 2005 Palestinian elections.

"As an eye witness I can testify that it was the army which initiated the use of violence. I have no doubt that the army commanders prepared in advance to shoot and attack a quiet, non-violent procession of israelis and Palestinians marching quietly and orderly with their only wish to express their protest. It was very clear that the army prepared in advance to use violence, and carried out that intention" says Avnery.

Today's demonstration is the largest to take place at Bil'in for a considerable period. To mark two years since the beginning of the anti-Wall protests at Bil'in, taking place every Friday, some 300 Israelis mobilized to arrive on the spot and protest the erection of the wall which deprives the villagers of their land and livelihood. The army erected barriers on all the roads leading to Bil'in, but demonstrators - with the help of locals who thoroughly know the area - succeeded to bypass the blockade, arriving nevertheless at Bil'in and join with its inhabitants and with Palestinians arriving from other towns and villages. Among Israeli participants were activists of Gush Shalom, Ta'ayush, Women's Coalition for Peace, Yesh Gvul, Hadash, Ballad, Yesh Din, Sons of Abraham, Combatants for Peace, New Profile, Anarchists Against Walls. At the time of writing (about 3.00 pm) confrontations and heavy shooting of Tear Gas continue.

Further info: Adam Keller, Gush Shalom spokesperson adam@gush-shalom.org