RAMALLAH, March 16, 2007 (WAFA) - Two Palestinians from Bil'in and two Israeli peace activists were arrested today at Bil'in as the IOF stepped up their crackdown on peaceful protest in the village, International Solidarity Movement (ISM) said.

Members of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Bil'in Ratib Abu Rahme and Mohammed Katib, who has just returned from a speaking tour in the US, were taken to the police station with Israeli activists Kobi Snitz and Shai Pollack, who directed the film about the village's campaign of non-violent resistance 'Bil'in Habibti'. They were all released three hours later.

ISM said today's demo marked the four year anniversary of the murder of American peace activist Rachel Corrie, who was crushed by an IOF bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza, whilst protecting the homes of Palestinians from demolition. Banners commemorated the anniversary.

The marchers were prevented from reaching the gate in the Wall as the IOF erected razor wire around 200 metres in front of the gate. When the protesters walked around the wire soldiers pushed them back with their shields and batons. Eventually most of the protesters passed through and were grabbed and dragged along the ground just for being there. Despite this aggression not a stone had been directed at the IOF by this stage.

When the crowd dispersed some stones were thrown at the soldiers, resulting in the indiscrimate firing of tear gas cannisters and rubber bullets. Journalist Fadi Hamad from the Ramattan news agency was hit with a tear gas cannister in the eye and was treated by medics. Journalists are injured most weeks at Bil'in. Tear gas was fired at the returning crowd even in the built-up part of the village. Altogether seven protesters were injured, with three hospitalised. They were later discharged.

"This week the Shabbak (Shin Bet - the Israeli internal 'intelligence' agency) made phone calls to members of the Popular Committee in Bil'in threatening to arrest, shoot or kill them unless the weekly anti-Wall protests stopped," said ISM "they were also ordered to attend interrogations at a nearby military base. Leaflets were distributed in the village trying to dissuade villagers from attending the demos by dismissing the two-year long campaign against the Wall as ineffective and threatening to arrest those who invite Israeli and international peace activists to the demos."

It added that villagers see this as merely the latest futile attempt to stifle peaceful protest to the theft of 60% of the village land for the illegal settlements.

A.D (22:15P) (20:15GMT)