16 April, 2010 — The Only Democracy?

Exactly one year ago, Bassem Abu Rahma (who everyone called Pheel, which means ‘elephant’), was killed by Israeli forces. Pheel, as he did every Friday, was demonstrating at the Wall which cuts off Bil’in from its own lands. His last words were to ask the soldiers not to shoot because an Israeli had been injured. He was shot in the chest by a tear gas canister, as can be seen in this video (somewhat graphic).

Pheel was by all accounts a very special person, as the video below makes very clear. It is somewhat long, but worth watching. Pheel is one of six peaceful Palestinian demonstrators who have been killed in the villages of Bil’in and Na’alin alone in the last year and a half.