ISRAELI FORCES SUPPRESS BILIN WEEKLY MARCH

Bilin, 12 Syaban 1436/30 May 2015 (MINA) – Dozens of Palestinian and international activists suffered excessive tear gas inhalation on Friday as Israeli forces dispersed the Bilin weekly march.

Witnesses said that Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas canisters, and stun grenades at the protesters as they approached the Israeli separation wall, Ma’an News Agency reports as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

The stun grenades caused a fire to break out that swept through lands belonging to Bilin residents Mahmoud Abd al-Hadi Samara, Ashraf al-Khatib and Taysir al-Khatib.

Protesters were reported to have chanted songs and raised red cards, calling for the suspension of Israel from FIFA.

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The Palestinian Football Association’s bid to oust Israel was due to be voted on at FIFA’s 65th congress in Zurich Friday, but was called off at the last minute when, for unknown reasons, the PFA dropped the challenge.

Israeli forces regularly use violent force to disperse the Bilin weekly march.

Bilin has long been one of the most active villages in organized opposition against the Israeli occupation and confiscation of Palestinian land.

This year marks the tenth consecutive year of weekly marches against the Israeli separation wall in Bilin, which was constructed on Palestinian land in 2005. (T/P010/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)