News from the Frontline - Bil’in’s struggle
“Just as a simple man named Gandhi led the successful non-violent struggle in India and simple people such as Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela led the struggle for civil rights in the United States, simple people here in Bil’in are leading a non-violent struggle that will bring them their freedom. The South Africa experience proves that injustice can be dismantled.”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
The West Bank village of Bil’in is located 12 kilometers west of Ramallah and 4 km east of the Green Line. It is an agricultural village, around 4,085 dunams (988 acres) in size, and populated by approximately 1,780 residents.
Approximately 55% of Bil’in’s agricultural land has been declared ‘State Land’ by Israel and confiscated for the construction of the settlement bloc, Modi’in Illit. Modi’in Illit holds the largest settler population of any settlement bloc, with over 42,000 residents and plans to achieve a population of 150,000.
Prior to 1948, Bil’in spanned 4,085 dunams. Starting in 1982 and again in 1991, around 1,980 dunams were taken. Another 260 dunams were taken for construction of the Wall in 2005.
In 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Wall was contrary to international law, particularly International Humanitarian Law. The Court went on to rule that Israel’s settlements are illegal under the same laws, noting that the Wall’s route is intimately connected to the settlements adjacent to the Green Line, further annexing 12% of the West Bank to Israel.
Despite the advisory opinion, early in 2005, Israel began constructing the separation Wall on Bil’in’s land, cutting the village in half in order to place Modi’in Illit and its future growth on the “Israeli side” of the Wall.
In March 2005, Bil’in residents began to organize almost daily direct actions and demonstrations against the theft of their lands. Gaining the attention of the international community with their creativity and perseverance, Bil’in has become a symbol for popular resistance.
Almost five years later, Bil’in continues to have weekly Friday protests.
Bil’in has held annual conferences on popular resistance since 2006, providing a forum for activists, intellectuals, and leaders to discuss strategies for the non-violent struggle against the Occupation.
Israeli forces have used sound and shock grenades, water cannons, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas grenades, tear gas canisters and 0.22 caliber live ammunition against protesters.
On 17 April 2009, Bassem Abu Rahma was shot with a high-velocity tear gas projectile in the chest by Israeli forces and subsequently died from his wounds at a Ramallah hospital.
Out of the 75 residents who were arrested in connection to demonstrations against the Wall, 27 have been were arrested after the beginning of a night raid campaign on 23 June 2009.
In addition to its grassroots movement, Bil’in turned to the courts in the fall of 2005. In September 2007, 2 years after they initiated legal proceedings, the Israeli High Court of Justice ruled that due to illegal construction in part of Modi’in Illit, unfinished housing could not be completed and that the route of the Wall be moved several hundred meters west, returning 25% of Bil’in’s lands to the village. To date, the high court ruling has not been implemented and settlement construction continues.
On the 16th December 2009, at 2am, the Israeli occupation forces invaded the home of Salam Amira, the girl who filmed the shooting of Bil’in’s Asharaf Abu Rahme, whilst his hands were tied and eyes blindfolded, earlier this year. The soldiers surrounded the home and shouted that if the family did not get out they would start shooting, but the family were sleeping and didn’t hear, so the soldiers began smashing the windows of the house. When the father eventually woke up and asked the soldiers what they wanted, they refused to answer and ordered the family to be silent.
As Hassan Mousa, member of the Ni’lin Popular Committee, told visitors, “Despite already having lost so much land behind the Wall, this family continues to be punished by the Israeli army.” The family consider the attack as revenge for their daughters brave actions during a curfew in Ni’lin earlier this year, when she filmed Abu Rahme.
On Friday 18 december On Friday, hundreds of Palestinians came out to demonstrate against the Apartheid Wall in the West Bank villages of Bil’in and Ni’ilin, along with dozens of Israeli and international activists.
The demonstration which was organized by the Popular Committee against the Wall was joined by dozens of leaders, members and supporters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. As every Friday a number of international and Israeli peace activists and people from Bil’in and neighboring villages took part in the demo.
While the joint popular struggle against the wall in Ni’ilin is nearing its’ tenth month, residents of Bil’in marked the fourth anniversary of their weekly protests, with an exceptionally large march and rally.
After the Friday prayers, a joyful and wet group of demonstrators carried banners condemning the Israeli occupation and its repressive practices while they marched towards the wall built on Bili’n land.
Slogans and speeches called for national unity and reminded the principles of the Palestinian. When the demonstrators approached the wall the Israeli army fired sound bombs and tear gasses and after a while a soldier also shot some rubber-coated metal bullets.
The Popular Committee Against the Wall and settlement activities just won the “Arab Creativity Award for 2009″ in a special ceremony held late tenth of December 2009 in Kuwait . This is considered the best experience of Bil’in popular resistance to occupation and it comes a year after another prestigious award, Carl von Oositzackhe award, which was granted by the World Association for Human Rights in Berlin . The People’s Committee also got an award for achievement Yasser Arafat in 2007, the highest award associated with the eternal leader Yasser Arafat. this has got the experience of Bil’in Palestine International Award for innovation and distinction as the best experience of two years before the Palestinian Telecommunications Company as well.
People’s Committee has expressed its happiness and promised that it will be constantly committed to the struggle.
Today’s demo followed a night invasion carried out by five military jeeps full of soldiers and Immigration police officers. They surrounded the house where international activists usually sleep, then they entered the apartment and proceeded in checking passports. When asked, they didn’t showed any paper allowing them in declaring the whole area to be ” a close military zone”.
The Popular Committee Against the Wall in Bil’in asks all the international human rights organizations, UN Human Rights Council, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the General Assembly of the United Nations to work for the release of Abdullah Abu Rahma, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and settlements in Bil’in .
On 18 December the armed forces of the IDF entered the village of Bi’lin , around 30 soldiers struck at the international and media house clearly showing Israel’s determination to shut down the coverage on their occupation and apartheid.
After dragging all international out of their houses and into the night rain they checked their passports and searched the house for item. Nothing was found and nothing was confiscated. After 1 hour the soldiers left in two separate groups, some in armored cars and others who left on foot into the night.
For further information contact Friends of Freedom and Justice - Bilin