Two Al-Jazeera crew members, another journalist, and an activist were detained Friday by Israeli forces in Bil'in Sunday, Ma'an News Agency reports.

Photo of the detention: Israeli forces arresting the Al-Jazeera reporters before the demonstration began

AJ crew members Majdi Banura and Nader Abu Zer were detained along with an Irish journalist (Tom - his last name was not identified) and an unnamed foreign national peace activist.

A march on Bil'in was organized in honor of May Day (Saturday) by Palestinian Minister of Labor Ahmad Majdalani.  The march was a showy event, full of official representatives.  Ma'an writes:

Marking May Day, Palestinian Minister of Labor Ahmad Majdalani welcomed the unions to Bil'in on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Among the attendees were Jamil Shehada, secretary-general of the Palestinian Arab Front, Hesham Abu Rayya, member of the politburo office of the Palestinian Liberation Front, and Heider Ibrahim, secretary-general of the Union of Workers, as well as residents of Bil'in, member of the Palestinian Struggle Front, and international peace activists.

As their march headed toward the Bil'in barrier where Friday protests have been banned but persisted for two months, the marchers were met with tear gas and rubber bullets.  Participants say soldiers briefly penetrated the village.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said Israelis opened fire after participants threw rocks at the soldiers.

Photo:  Photos from Zion - Flickr

Related Posts