Flags for Freedom
Bil’in villagers continue
resistance
By Joe Carr
View this report with
pictures at
www.lovinrevolution.org
7 October, 2005
Today, just after noon-day
prayers, a large group of Palestinians from Bil’in marched
alongside around forty Israeli activists and eight
internationals from the International Solidarity Movement to
protest Israel’s annexation wall currently under
construction on Bil’in land.
Villagers intended to wire
Palestinian flags to a thick metal barrier used to mark the
planned path of the wall and prevent Palestinians from
accessing their farmland. I became highly energized while we
marched, chanting anti-wall slogans in Arabic and clapping
our hands. The mood was lively and intense, despite the
discouraging political situation and the fact that everyone
is hungry and thirsty from fasting (it’s Ramadan!)
As the march approached the
area, dozens of Israeli soldiers in riot gear stood right
behind the metal barrier. The soldiers were passionate about
not letting Palestinians attach the flags, and violently
suppressed them by pushing and hitting the Palestinians and
confiscating and breaking the flags. The Palestinians were
diligent however, and continued their attempts. When blocked
in one area, they’d go to another. Over and over again. This
kind of persistence of resistance by Palestinians has always
inspired me.
Someone discovered that the
metal barrier was good for percussion and began banging on
it with rocks. Soon most everyone joined in rhythm with
chants, creating a cacophony so magnificent the soldiers
could barely communicate with eachother and on their radios.
A commander tried briefly to get people to stop, but quickly
gave up.
Around 1pm, soldiers went
under the barrier and stormed the crowed pushing and hitting
us nonviolent demonstrators. Israeli activists stood their
ground and resisted the soldiers attempts to push them back.
After much struggle and de-arresting, the soldiers managed
to detain seventeen Israeli activists and carried them into
a large armored vehicle. They also detained Mohammad Al
Khatib, an organizer with Bil’in’s Popular Committee against
the Wall and Settlements, after roughing him up and tearing
his clothes. They later released him without charges. They
released sixteen of the Israelis without charges, but are
still holding Eli and charging him with interfering with an
investigation.
As the day went on and the
demonstration dwindled, a group of young boys began throwing
and hurling rocks with slingshots (David style). The
soldiers, from a good 150 meters away, fired teargas
canister after teargas canister at the boys who would
briefly disperse to let the gas clear and then resume their
symbolic resistance. Again, impressive persistence.
Palestinian medics treated several of the boys for excessive
teargas inhalation.
Despite the arrests and
Israeli violence, Bil’in villagers are determined to
continue resisting Israel’s wall which plans to confiscate
60% of their farmland. Israeli activists and members of the
International Solidarity Movement are committed to standing
with them as they nonviolently resist Israel’s illegal
occupation and colonization of their land.
View
this report with pictures at
www.lovinrevolution.org
