25/08/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU has expressed its concern over the conviction by an Israeli military court of one of the organisers of demonstrations by Palestinian villagers from Bil'in (West Bank) against the separation barrier erected through their village which Israeli authorities say is a way of countering terrorist attacks from the occupied territories. On 24 August, Abdallah Abu Rahma, who had been held since December 2009, was found guilty of involvement in “illegal and unauthorised demonstrations”. He will be sentenced in September. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton condemned the decision, stating that “the EU considers Abdallah Abu Rahma to be a Human Rights Defender committed to non violent protest”. She also stated that the EU considers the route of the barrier, where it is built on Palestinian land, to be “illegal”. (H.B./transl.rt)