On January 4th, 2008 the Israeli soldiers used coiled razor-wire to keep the demonstrators about fifty yards from them. In the past the protesters had gotten face-to-face with the well-armed troops after walking a few hundred yards from the village of Bil’in but long before they could reach the Wall, variously known as the Apartheid, Separation, or Annexation Wall.

January 4th was also a good day weather-wise for the tear gas: a constant wind was coming our way from behind the soldiers and their jeeps. They were quick to fire the stinging substance at us as soon as some demonstrators touched the wire barrier and tried to move it.

David and Joe saw a demonstrator who was wounded by a rubber-coated bullet.

The Independent Middle East Media Center (IMEMC) reported that 3 other people were wounded.

The Israeli High Court of Justice has ruled that this particular section of the Wall encroaches on Palestinian property and must be moved back. The judicial order has had no effect so far.

IMEMC also reported: “On Wednesday, a group of Israeli settlers tried to build a new settlement outpost on land owned by Bil'in villagers. Farmers from the village and their families got to their lands and tried to stop the settlers from installing the outpost. The armed settlers attacked the unarmed farmers and injured three of them. On Friday, Israeli troops removed the settlement outpost.” Videos of this dramatic nonviolent action can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wmAOw1uCyk . The injured are seen in hospital at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrI5zzcYm0s&watch_response