RAMALLAH, April 18, 2009 (WAFA)- Bil’in villagers carried, this morning, the body of Basem Abu Rahme, through the streets of Ramallah, then continued to Bil’in to conduct his funeral.

Basem Abu Rahme (29), was shot, Friday, in the stomach with a high-velocity tear gas projectile at Bilin’s nonviolent weekly demonstration. He was evacuated to Ramallah hospital in critical condition, where he died of his injury.

According to eyewitnesses, Basem was on a hill with several journalists to the side of other demonstrators.  Soldiers opened fire from a distance of 40 meters, aiming directly with the tear-gas projectiles.

“Now more than ever,” the Palestinian Solidarity Movement said, “Bil’in residents are committed to holding the Fourth International Conference on Popular Nonviolent Resistance from the 22nd until the 24th of April.