Non Violent Palestinian Activist Shot in Head

I just recieved this email from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM)- a Palestinian led organisation that facilitates the support of non violent resistance to the Isreaeli occupation by International activists. The video shows a common scene at Bil'in- retreating protestors being fired upon by Israeli teenagers. I couldn't help noticing that there weren't many foreigners at this demo- maybe if more had been there Abdullah wouldn't have been shot in the head.

If anyone is able to go and volunteer in Palestine with ISM or any of the similar organisations out there- please do so! Trust me- it's likely to be one of the most worthwhile things you will ever do.

Abdullah Abu Rahme from the Popular Committee of Bil'in was shot inthe head by a rubber-coated steel bullet yesterday at the weeklyBil'in demonstration. He is now recovering and can be reached at0547258210. You can watch the video here:


On Friday, January 11th, villagers of Bil'in were joined by Israeli, international, and other Palestinian Human Rights activistsin a protest against the Annexation Wall. In Bil'in, the wall is stealing more than 60% of village land, and even the Israeli SupremeCourt said in a recent decision that the route of the wall was notplanned for military reasons, but for land.In that September 4th Supreme Court decision, the Wall was ordered tobe taken down and the route redrawn. This was a court victory for thejoint non-violent struggle, but has yet to be reflected with facts onthe ground. The wall is still standing, and in fact recently settlersattempted to place new caravans on village land.The demonstration began as a march towards the gate in the Wall, wheresoldiers were standing with guns drawn. At the front of the march wasthe banner, "LEVIEV TURNS THESE ROCKS OF APARTHEID INTO DIAMONDS" inreference to the diamond mogul Lev Leviev, protesting his extensiveinvolvement in the construction of illegal settlements in the WestBank.

After about an hour people began to move back towards the village, thesoldiers used this chance to shoot off cannister after cannister oftear gas. One man was taken away on a stretcher from his exposure tothe gas. Activists stood on the opposite hill and regrouped whilesoldiers continued to shoot gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. Near the end of the demonstration, army snipers shot Bil'in PopularCommittee member Abdullah Abu Rahme in the head with a rubber-coatedsteel bullet. Abdullah was also one of the activists hospitalized aweek ago when settlers attacked a group of Palestinians who were non-violently protesting the placement of more caravans on their land.After the soldier shot Abdullah, he dances a bit and cheers, tellinghis comrades-in-arms that he "got one in the head!"