In addition to its weekly confrontations with the Israeli army, the village of Bilin has taken its case to a Quebec court. (Silan Dallal/Activestills.org)Abdullah Abu Rahme can no longer sleep in his own home. A member of the Bilin Popular Committee Against the Wall, Abu Rahme explained that since Bilin began its legal proceedings in Canada, Israeli soldiers have made life especially difficult for residents of the small West Bank village.
“[Israeli soldiers] came to my home and they tried to arrest me. They’re destroying my home. It’s not allowed to me to sleep in my home. I feel very bad about this. I’m suffering from this case until now,” he said. “I took my family to another place. It’s very difficult for me.”
Still, Abu Rahme and the villagers of Bilin are pushing forward in their nonviolent struggle against the Israeli occupation by appealing a Quebec Superior Court ruling in their case against two Canadian companies. The residents of Bilin are suing Green Park International and Green Mount International, two companies that, they argue, should be held legally accountable for illegally building residential homes and settlement infrastructure on the village’s land, and marketing these buildings for the purpose of transferring exclusively Israeli civilians therein.
Bilin is a small Palestinian village of approximately 1,800 residents located 12 kilometers west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Since the early 1980s, about 56 percent of Bilin’s agricultural land has been designated by Israel as “State Land.” It has been used to build the Jewish-only settlement Modiin Illit, which holds the largest settler population in the occupied West Bank with more than 42,000 residents and plans to grow to up to 150,000.
Israel began building its wall in the occupied West Bank in 2003. The wall literally cuts the village of Bilin in half. Since 2005, the residents of Bilin have held weekly demonstrations every Friday against the wall, garnering international attention and support for their efforts. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the wall was illegal under international law in a 2004 advisory opinion. A year later, the Israeli high court also ruled that the wall’s route through Bilin was illegal and should be moved closer to the boundary of Modiin Illit. However, neither the ICJ nor the Israeli high court rulings were implemented.
The case against the Canadian companies was heard in Montreal in June 2009. However, Judge Louis-Paul Cullen found that the Israeli high court, not the Quebec Superior Court, was the best venue to hear the case. This ruling was centered on the issue of forum non conveniens, the Latin term for “inappropriate forum.” According to Emily Schaeffer, an Israeli attorney representing Bilin, the term states that “if there’s a better forum for the case, for various reasons, then the case should not be held or heard in the court it’s being brought to but rather in another court.”
Schaeffer maintains that the Quebec court is the only legal forum that can possibly hear the case, since both companies are domiciled in the province. “Israeli courts have repeatedly refused to examine the issue of the legality of settlements. Because that’s the issue for the case in Canada, there’s no other forum than the home of the companies who are registered and domiciled in Montreal,” she said.
“The decision to appeal is because we believe we’re right. We believe that the judge made an error. Our position is that the Israeli courts cannot and will not hear this case. Legality of settlements is not an issue that can be brought to Israeli courts,” Schaeffer added.
The Canadian federal legal system has adopted the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court under the Canadian Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Statute. The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 bars an occupying power from transferring part of its civilian population to the territory it is occupying. To do so is considered a war crime under the Rome Statute.
Setting a precedent
While the overall decision was disappointing, the judge’s sub-rulings can be seen as minor victories, Schaeffer explained. “The village of Bilin prevailed in almost every single aspect, and in two of the three motions. Something that we took as a victory [was that] corporations do have liability under Canadian law for their actions and violations of international law abroad. That’s precedence-setting,” she added.
For Schaeffer, a positive ruling would mean setting a precedent to stop other international companies from abetting Israeli war crimes. “If Bilin succeeds in this appeal, it will make more waves [in Israel] and that’s a good thing because what we also want is to discourage other companies from taking similar actions and taking part in war crimes in the occupied territories,” she explained.
Schaeffer added that she was as of yet unsure whether the entire case will be open to appeal, or if only the issue of forum non conveniens would be examined, and that the appeal will likely take several months before being processed.
The struggle continues
According to Freda Guttman, a Montreal-based activist who recently spent three months in Palestine with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), being involved with the Bilin campaign in Canada felt like something she needed to do. “It’s a very important cause. If they win this, it will set a precedent not just in Canada but everywhere. It feels like something very important to be involved in,” Guttman said.
Spending time in Bilin demonstrated to Guttman just how strenuous it is for residents to keep fighting the occupation, and the immense burden it places on their daily lives. “My excitement about [the appeal] is sort of tempered by the fact that I see the toll it’s taking on peoples’ lives there. They never know when the army is going to come. It’s just constant,” she said.
For his part, Abdullah Abu Rahme explained that the ruling by the Canadian court left the villagers of Bilin feeling disheartened and upset, but they haven’t lost hope.
“We are very sad about the decision about refusing the case in Canada but we hope to have another decision. We hope to [be restored] our rights and to have justice in this court,” he said. Abu Rahme added that the outpouring of support from international activists has been a huge motivator for residents of Bilin, who are organizing the village’s biggest demonstration yet for the five-year anniversary of their weekly nonviolent demonstrations next February.
Guttman, describing the Canadian legal proceedings as “a roller coaster,” said she too is prepared for the long haul. “I don’t think it’s going to be easy and I don’t think it’s going to be quick. [Bilin is] a very important movement at the forefront of the struggle,” she said.
According to Abu Rahme, that struggle will continue until justice is achieved in Bilin, the West Bank and all of Palestine. “Every Friday we are there. We want to continue our struggle. Until now there is no justice, for the wall and the settlements. We will continue our nonviolent struggle with the support of the internationals and our faith to have justice and to remove the wall and the settlements and the occupation.”
Jillian Kestler-D’Amours is a student and freelance journalist based in Montreal. More of her work can be found at jkdamours.wordpress.com.
In a symbolic reenactment of the event that changed the world 20 years ago, demonstrators from all over the West Bank managed to topple a section of Israel’s wall, 8 meters of reinforced concrete in height, near the infamous Qalandiya Checkpoint.
Demonstrators gather near the Wall
Palestinian activists prepare to tear down the Wall
Activists take down part of the Wall
The Wall falls on a historic day
On the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, hundreds of demonstrators from across the West Bank convened in Qalandiya to demand the immediate dismantling of Israel’s wall. In a dramatic turn of events, protesters managed to tip-over a a section of the wall, opening a passage in this strategic and symbolic location at the entrance to East-Jerusalem.
Exactly twenty years ago today the Berlin Wall came crumbling down in two days that changed the world forever. Today, a wall twice as high and five times as long is being built by Israel in the West Bank, in blatant contempt of international law, to separate Palestinians from their lands.
Despite the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion of 2004, that pronounced Israel’s wall illegal, and called for its removal, no significant changes on the ground were made. After the demonstration ended, Mushir Ghazzal, an organizer with the popular struggle coordination committee, said that “Today’s events prove that we must not wait for Israel to end its occupation on its own – we Palestinians should do it with our own two hands. Like the Berlin Wall at the time, Israel’s wall seems to us an undefiable reality, but twice this week it has caved in to the pressure of ordinary people fighting for their rights.”
The anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall has been declared an international day of action against Israel’s barrier. Last Friday, mass demonstrations were staged simultaneously in three villages along the path of the wall, including in Ni’ilin where protesters managed, for the first time ever in the West Bank, to topple the 8 meter tall concrete wall there.
20 years to the fall of the Berlin wall: Demonstrators toppled 8 meters tall concrete wall in Ni’ilin
Three protest marches were held today in the West Bank to mark the 20th anniversary to the fall of the Berlin wall, which has been declared an international day of action against Israel’s barrier. In Ni’lin, the 300 demonstrators managed to topple a part of the eight meters tall concrete wall that cuts through the village’s land. Following the direct action, the army fired scores of live rounds at the demonstrators.
Demonstrators topple concrete wall
Using small tools, Ni’lin residents push concrete wall
No matter how tall, all walls fall
The concrete wall in Ni’lin – five to eight meters (15 to 25 feet) in height – has only recently been laid on the path of the wall cutting through Ni’lin’s lands, in addition to the already existing electronic barrier and razor-wire.
Since the Wall was built to allow more land to annexed to the nearby settlements rather than in a militarily strategic manner, demonstrators have been able to repeatedly dismantle parts of the electronic fence and razor-wire surrounding it. The section of the Wall in Ni’lin is the only place along the route of the barrier where a concrete wall has been erected in an attempt to deal with the civic, unarmed campaign waged by the village in protest of the massive land theft that will enable the expansion of the illegal settlements of Modi’in Il’it and Hashmonaim.
Since Israel began its construction in the year 2002, This is the first time demonstrators succeed in toppling a part of Israel’s barrier which is a concrete wall. One of the demonstrators, Moheeb Khawaja, said during the protest: “Twenty years ago no one had thought the monster that divided Berlin into two could be brought down, but in only two days in November, it did. Today we have proven that this can also be done here and now. It is our land beyond this wall, and we will not give up on it. We will win for a simple reason – justice is on our side.”
Background
Israel began construction of the Wall on Ni’lin’s land in 2004, but stopped after an injunction order issued by the Israeli Supreme Court (ISC). Despite the previous order and a 2004 ruling from the International Court of Justice declaring the Wall illegal, construction of the Wall began again in May 2008. Following the return of Israeli bulldozers to their lands, residents of Ni’lin have launched a grassroots campaign to protest the massive land theft, including demonstrations and direct actions.
The original route of the Wall, which Israel began constructing in 2004, was ruled illegal by the ISC, as was a second, marginally less obtrusive proposed route. The most recent path, now completed, still cuts deep into Ni’lin’s land. The Wall has been built to include plans, not yet approved by the Army’s planning authority, for a cemetery and an industrial zone for the illegal settlement Modi’in Ilit.
Since the Wall was built to annex more land to the nearby settlements rather than in a militarily strategic manner, demonstrators have been able to repeatedly dismantle parts of the electronic fence and razor-wire surrounding it. Consequently, the army has erected a 15-25 feet tall concrete wall, in addition to the electronic fence. The section of the Wall in Ni’lin is the only part of the route where a concrete wall has been erected in response to civilian, unarmed protest.
As a result of the Wall construction, Ni’lin has lost 3,920 dunams, roughly 30% of its remaining lands. Originally, Ni’lin consisted of 15,898 dunams (3928 acres). Post 1948, Ni’lin was left with 14,794 dunams (3656 acres). After the occupation of the West Bank in 1967, the illegal settlements and infrastructure of Modi’in Ilit, Mattityahu and Hashmonaim were built on village lands, and Ni’lin lost another 1,973 dunams. With the completion of the Wall, Ni’lin has a remaining 8911 dunams (2201 acres), 56% of it’s original size.
Ni’lin is effectively split into 2 parts (upper and lower) by Road 446, which was built directly through the village. According to the publicized plan of the Israeli government, a tunnel will be built under road 446 to connect the upper and lower parts of Ni’lin, allowing Israel to turn Road 446 into a segregated-setter only road. Subsequently, access for Palestinian vehicles to this road and to the main entrances of upper and lower Ni’lin will be closed. Additionally, since the tunnel will be the only entryway to Ni’lin, Israel will have control over the movement of Palestinian residents.
Israel commonly uses tear-gas projectiles, rubber coated steel bullets and live ammunition against demonstrators.
Since May, 2008, five of Ni’lin’s residents were killed and one American solidarity activist was critically injured from Israeli fire during grassroots demonstrations in Ni’lin.
5 June 2009: Yousef Akil Srour (36) was shot in the chest with 0.22 caliber live ammunition and pronounced dead upon arrival at a Ramallah hospital.
13 March 2009: Tristan Anderson (37), an American citizen, was shot in the head with a high velocity tear gas projectile. He is currently at Tel Hashomer hospital near Tel Aviv with uncertain prospects for his recovery.
28 December 2008: Mohammed Khawaje (20) was shot in the head with 5.56mm caliber live ammunition. He died in a Ramallah hospital 3 days later on 31 December 2008.
28 December 2008: Arafat Rateb Khawaje (22) was shot in the back with 5.56mm caliber live ammunition and pronounced dead upon arrival at a Ramallah hospital.
30 July 2008: Yousef Amira (17) was shot in the head with two rubber coated steel bullets. He died in a Ramallah hospital 5 days later on 4 August 2008.
29 July 2008: Ahmed Mousa (10) was shot in the forehead with 5.56mm caliber live ammunition and pronounced dead upon arrival at a Ramallah hospital.
Israeli armed forces have shot 40 demonstrators with live ammunition in Ni’lin. Of them, 11 were shot with 5.56mm caliber live ammunition and 24 were shot with 0.22 caliber live ammunition.
Since May 2008, 87 arrests of Ni’lin residents have been made in relation to anti-Wall demonstrations in the village. The protesters seized by the army constitute around 7% of the village’s males aged between 12 and 55. The arrests are part of a broad Israeli intimidation campaign to suppress all demonstrations against the apartheid infrastructure in the West Bank.
“Just as a simple man named Ghandi 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, during a visit to Bil’in on 27 August 2009
Demonstrators protest against the detention of Adeeb and other Biliners
Adeeb Abu Rahmah, a leading activist and organizer from the West Bank village of Bil’in has been held in detention since his arrest during a demonstration on 10 July 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqaO8lFYuM0). Thousands of Israeli and international solidarity activists who have demonstrated alongside Adeeb against the theft of Bil’in’s lands over the past five years can testify to his unshakable commitment to non-violence and dignified action.
Adeeb who has been detained for over three months, is not suspected of committing any violence, but was indicted with a blanket charge of “incitement to violence”. A judge had initially ruled that Adeeb be released with restrictive conditions, but an appeal filed by the military prosecution had the decision overturned, and he was remanded until the end of legal proceedings. Trials for Palestinians in Israeli military courts often last over a year. Adeeb is the sole provider for his 9 children, wife and mother.
Adeeb’s arrest is part of the Israeli military’s most recent attempt to crush Bil’in village’s ongoing popular non-violent resistance campaign. A wave of night raids and arrests targeting protesters and the leadership of Bil’in’s Popular Committee began concurrently with preliminary hearings in a lawsuit against two Canadian companies responsible for the construction of an Israeli settlement on Bil’in’s land.
On 23 June 2009, the Canadian court heard the preliminary arguments for a suit brought by Bil’in against two companies registered in Canada (Green Park International & Green Mount International). The village is seeking justice against the construction of settlements on its lands under the 2000 Canadian Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Statute.
Israeli forces have arrested 27 residents, 11 of which are under 18. Sixteen Bil’iners remain in Israeli detention, nine of which are minors. Some of the arrestees have reported being questioned about Bi’in’s lawsuit in Canada during their interrogation.
Overwhelming support and outcry from the international community have contributed to what appears to be the end of the night raids (the last raid took place on 30 September 2009). While soldiers have stopped coming to arrest demonstrators in the night, the aftermath of the raids has left Bil’in with large legal fees/bails and 16 remaining residents in Israeli detention. In defiance of the pressure from Israeli authorities, the village continues to hold weekly demonstrations. Bil’iners protested in solidarity with Adeeb Abu Rahme (https://palsolidarity.org/2009/10/9054) and recently filed an appeal in the Canadian court case (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256037270183&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull). While they continue their struggle, they need your support.
What can you do?
Attempts to criminalize the leadership of non-violent protests where curbed in the past with the help of an outpouring of support from people committed to justice from all over the world.
Please protest by contacting your political representatives, as well as your consuls and ambassadors to Israel (http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Israel) to demand that Israel stops targeting non-violent popular resistance and release Adeeb Abu Rahmah and all Bil’in prisoners.
The Popular Committee of Bil’in is in desperate need for funds in order to pay legal fees both for the trail in Montréal and for representing the arrested protesters in the military courts and bail.Please donate to the Bil’in legal fund through PayPal. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation in the US or Canada contact: bilinlegal@gmail.com.
The Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements
Background
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 (link to weapons page).
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. Israeli armed forces have been regularly invading homes and forcefully searching for demonstration participants, targeting the leaders of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, as well as teenage boys accused of throwing stones at the Wall. Sixteen currently remain in detention, 9 of which are minors.
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.
In July 2008, Bil’in commenced legal proceedings before the Superior Court of Quebec against Green Park International Inc and Green Mount International Inc for their involvement in constructing, marketing and selling residential units in the Mattityahu East section of Modi’in Illit.
Tout comme un simple individu nommé Gandhi a mené avec succès la lutte non-violente en Inde et de simples individus, comme Rosa Parks et Nelson Mandela ont mené la lutte pour les droits civiques aux États-Unis et en Afrique du Sud, de simples individus ici, à Bil’in mènent une lutte non-violente qui leur apportera la liberté. L’expérience de l’Afrique du Sud prouve que l’injustice peut être démantelée. –Archevêque Desmond Tutu, lors de sa visite à Bil’in le 27 août 2009.
Adeeb Abu Rahmah, organisateur et militant très actif de Bil’in, village de Cisjordanie, est en détention depuis son arrestation lors de la manifestation du 10 juillet 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqaO8lFYuM0). Des milliers d’activistes de la solidarité israéliens et internationaux, qui ont manifesté aux côtés d’Adeeb contre le vol des terres de Bil’in au cours de ces cinq dernières années, peuvent témoigner de son engagement inébranlable pour l’action non violente et digne.
Adeeb, qui est détenu depuis plus de trois mois, n’est pas soupçonné d’avoir commis un acte violent, mais a été inculpé sous une accusation de couverture d'”incitation à la violence”. Un juge avait d’abord décidé de le libérer sous conditions restrictives, mais un appel interjeté par le procureur militaire a fait renverser la décision, et Adeeb sera maintenu en prison jusqu’à la fin de la procédure judiciaire. Les procès des Palestiniens devant les tribunaux militaires durent souvent plus d’un an. Adeeb subvient seul aux besoins de ses 9 enfants, de sa femme et de sa mère.
L’arrestation d’Adeeb fait partie de la plus récente tentative de l’armée israélienne d’écraser la campagne de résistance non violente en cours dans le village de Bil’in. Une vague de raids nocturnes et d’arrestations visant les protestataires et la direction du Comité Populaire de Bil’in a commencé en même temps que les premières audiences d’une action en justice intentée contre deux compagnies canadiennes pour la construction d’une colonie israélienne sur la terre de Bi’lin.
En effet, le 23 juin 2009, le tribunal canadien a entendu en première audience les arguments d’une action intentée par Bi’lin contre deux compagnies enregistrées au Canada (Green Park International & Green Mount International). Le village appelle en justice contre la construction de colonies sur ses terres, conformément à la Loi canadienne sur les crimes contre l’humanité et les crimes de guerre ratifiée en 2000.
Les forces israéliennes ont arrêté 27 habitants de Bil’in, dont 11 ont moins de 18 ans. 16 d’entre eux sont toujours en détention israélienne, dont 9 sont mineurs. Certains d’entre eux ont rapporté qu’ils avaient été interrogés sur le procès de Bil’in au Canada pendant leur interrogatoire.
Un énorme soutien et un tollé général de la communauté internationale ont contribué à ce qui semble être la fin des raids nocturnes (le dernier a eu lieu le 30 septembre 2009). Alors que les soldats ont cessé de venir arrêter les manifestants la nuit, les répercussions des raids laissent Bil’in avec des honoraires et des cautions importants et 16 résidents toujours en détention israélienne.
Alors qu’ils poursuivent leur lutte, ils ont besoin de votre soutien.
Que pouvez-vous faire ?
Les tentatives de criminalisation de la direction des protestations non violentes ont été freinées par le passé grâce à un déluge d’actions de soutien de la part des gens du monde entier pour qui le mot justice a un sens.
Prenez contact avec vos représentants politiques, ainsi qu’avec vos ambassades et consulats en Israël (http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Israel) pour demander qu’Israël cesse de viser la résistance populaire non violente et libère Adeeb Abu Rahmah et tous les prisonniers de Bil’in.
Le Comité Populaire de Bil’lin a besoin de fonds pour régler les frais juridiques tant pour le procès à Montréal que pour la représentation des militants arrêtés devant les tribunaux militaires. Merci de faire parvenir vos dons au fonds juridique de Bi’lin par PayPal. Si vous souhaitez faire un don déductible des impôts aux USA et au Canada, contactez bilinlegal@gmail.com.
Le Comité populaire de Bil’in contre le Mur et les Colonies.
Contexte
Le village de Bil’in est situé en Cisjordanie, à 12 km à l’ouest de Ramallah et à 4 km à l’est de la Ligne Verte. C’est un village agricole, d’environ 4.085 dunams (1 dunam = 0,1 ha), et d’environ 1.780 habitants.
Près de 55% de la terre agricole de Bil’in ont été déclarés “Terre d’Etat” par Israël et confisqués pour la construction du bloc de colonie de Modi’in Illit. Modi’in Illit détient la plus importante population coloniale de tous les blocs de colonie avec plus de 42.000 habitants, et son projet est de parvenir à une population de 150.000 colons.
Avant 1948, Bil’in couvrait 4.085 dunams. En 1982 et à nouveau en 1991, près de 1.980 dunams ont été réquisitionnés. 260 autres dunams l’ont été pour la construction du Mur en 2005.
En 2004, la Cour Internationale de Justice a statué que le Mur contrevenait au droit international, en particulier au droit humanitaire international. La Cour a statué de plus que les colonies d’Israël étaient illégales selon ce même droit, précisant que le tracé du Mur était intimement lié aux colonies adjacentes à la Ligne Verte, annexant 12% de plus de la Cisjordanie à Israël.
En dépit de la décision consultative, début 2005, Israël a poursuivi la construction du Mur de séparation sur la terre de Bil’in, coupant le village en deux de manière à placer Modi’in Illit et sa croissance future “du côté israélien” du Mur.
En mars 2005, les habitants de Bil’in ont commencé à organiser des actions directes quasi quotidiennes et des manifestations contre le vol de leurs terres. Gagnant l’attention de la communauté internationale par sa créativité et sa persévérance, Bil’in est devenu un symbole de la résistance populaire. Près de cinq ans plus tard, Bil’in continue de manifester chaque vendredi.
Depuis 2006, Bi’lin organise des conférences annuelles sur la résistance populaire, offrant aux activistes, aux intellectuels et aux dirigeants un forum de discussion sur les stratégies de la lutte non violente contre l’occupation.
Les forces israéliennes ont fait usage de grenades soniques et de choc, des canons à eaux, des balles caoutchouc-acier, des grenades et des bombes lacrymogènes, des balles de calibre 0.22 contre les manifestants.
Le 17 avril 2009, Bassem Abu Rahma a reçu une grenade lacrymogène à grande vitesse dans la poitrine, tirée par les forces israéliennes, et il est mort des suites de ses blessures à l’hôpital de Ramallah.
75 habitants ont été arrêtés en lien avec les manifestations contre le Mur, 27 ont été arrêtées dans la campagne de raids nocturnes qui a débuté le 23 juin 2009.
En plus de son mouvement populaire, Bil’in est allé devant les tribunaux à l’automne 2005. En septembre 2007, deux ans après avoir lancé les procédures en justice, la Haute Cour israélienne de Justice a statué qu’à cause de la construction illégale dans certaines parties de Mod’in Illit, les maisons en construction ne devaient pas être terminées et que la route du Mur devait être déplacée de plusieurs centaines de mètres à l’ouest, restituant 25% de ses terres au village. A ce jour, la décision de la Haute Cour n’a pas été appliquée et la construction dans la colonie continue.
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Supporta la lotta di Bil’in
“Un uomo semplice di nome Gandhi guidó con successo la lotta nonviolenta in India e persone semplici come Rosa Parks e Nelson Mandela guidarono la lotta per i diritti Civili negli Stati Uniti, persone semplici qui a Bilin stanno conducendo una lotta nonviolenta che li porterá alla libertá. L’esempio del Sud Africa dimostra che l’ingiustizia puo essere vinta”. – Arcibishop Desmond Tutu, durante una visita a Bil’in, 27 Agosto 2009
Adeeb Abu Rahmah, un leader del movimento nonviolento proveniente dal villaggio della West Bank Bil’in, ė stato arrestato in data 10 Luglio 2009 durante una dimostrazione ed ė tuttora detenuto (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqaO8lFYuM0). Migliaia di attivisti Israeliani e internazionali che hanno dimostrato a fianco di Adeeb contro il furto delle terre di Bilin durante gli ultimi cinque anni, sono testimoni della sua costante impegno verso l’azione nonviolenta.
Adeeb, che ė in stato di detenzione da piu di tre mesi, non ė sospettato di aver commesso alcun tipo di violenza, ma ė stato accusato con una verdetto di copertura come quello “dell’incitamento alla violenza”. Un giudice aveva stabilito che Adeeb avrebbe potuto essere rilasciato con alcune condizioni restrittive, ma un appello presentato dal tribunale militare rovesció la decisione rimandando il suo rilascio alla fine del processo. I processi nei tribunali militari israeliani per i Palestinesi durano anche più di un anno. Adeeb ė il solo mezzo di sostentamento per i suoi 9 figli, la moglie e la madre.
L’arresto di Adeeb si inquadra nella strategia dell’esercito israeliano che ha come obiettivo la soppressione della lotta popolare e nonviolenta del villaggio di Bil’in anche attraverso un’ondata di raids notturni e arresti di attivisti. Nello stesso tempo, la leadership del Comitato Popolare di Bil’in comincia le udienze preliminari per un processo contro le due compagnie Canadesi responsabili della costruzione di un insediamento israeliano sulla terra appartenente al villaggio di Bil’in.
Il 23 Giugno 2009, la corte Canadese ha ascoltato gli argomenti durante le udienze preliminari per per una accusa portata dal villaggio di Bilin contro le due compagnie registrate in Canada (Green Park International & Green Mount International). Il villaggio cerca giustizia per la costruzione dei settlements sulla sua terra conformemente alla legge Canadese sui crimini contro l’umanitá e contro i crimini di guerra ratificata nel 2000.
L’esercito Israeliano ha arrestato 27 residenti di Bilin, 11 dei quail sotto i 18 anni. Sedici tra loro rimangono in stato di arresto e nove sono minori. Alcuni degli arrestati sono stati interrogati anche riguardo alla causa rivolta dal Villaggio contro le organizzazioni canadesi sopraccitate.
Il forte supporto e le proteste da parte della comunita internazionale hanno contribuito a quella che sembra essere la fine delle incursioni notturne dell’esercito israeliano a Bil’in (l’ultima incursione ė avvenuta il 30 Settembre 2009). Se i soldati hanno smesso di penetrare nel villaggio ed arrestare attivisti durante la notte, le consequenze delle incursioni hanno lasciato Bilin con delle enormi spese legali da sostenere e con 16 tra i suoi residenti ancora detenuti nelle prigioni israeliane.
Tentativi di criminalizzare la leadeship della protesta nonviolenta sono culminate nel passato con uno straordinario supporto da parte di persone motivate al raggiungimento della giustizia in tutto il mondo.
Per favore protestate contattando i vostri rappresentanti politici cosi come consoli ed ambasiatori in Israele (http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Israel) chiedendo che Israele la smetta di reprimere la resistenza popolare e nonviolenta e liberi Adeeb Abu Rahman e tutti i prigionieri di Bil’in.
Il Comitato Popolare di Bilin necessita urgentemente fondi per pagare le spese legali sia per il processo di Montreal sia per poter rappresentare gli attivisti arrestati presso le corti militari.
Per favore donate al fondo legale di Bilin attraverso PayPal. Se volete fare una donazione esentasse negli Stati Uniti o in Canada contattate: bilinlegal@gmail.com.
Il Comitato Popolare contro il Muro e gli insediamenti israeliani
Il contesto
Il villaggio di Bil’in e situato nella West Bank, 12 chilometri ad Ovest di Ramallah e quattro a est della Linea Verde. Il villaggio agricolo ha una grandezza di 988 acri ed conta 1,780 residenti.
Circa il 55% della terra coltivata e coltivabile di Bil’in ė stata dichiarata “Terra di Stato” da Israele e confiscata per la costruzione dell’insediamento israeliano Modi’in Illit. Questo ė l’insediamento piu popolato e conta oltre 42,000 residenti e i piani israeliani sono di raggiungere una popolazione di 150,000.
Prima del 1948 Bilin contava su un estensione di 4,085 dunams. Nel 1982 e nuovamente nel 1980, circa 1,980 dinams sono stati confiscati. Altri 260 dunams sono stati confiscati per la costruzione del muro nel 2005.
Nel 2004, la Corte Internazionale di Giustizia decise che il muro ė contrario al diritto internazionale e, in particolare, al diritto internazionale umanitario. La corte stabilí inoltre che anche gli insediamenti israeliani sono da considerare illegali, sottolineando che il percorso del muro ė strettamente connesso con la posizione degli insediamenti nelle vicinanze della Linea Verde, annettendo in questo modo un’altro 12% della West Bank a Israele.
Nonostante l’opinione della Corte Internazionale di Giustizia, Israele inizió i lavori per la costruzione del muro sulla terra di Bil’in, tagliando il villaggio in due cosí da poter sistemare Modi’in Illit e la sua futura espansione sul lato “israeliano” del muro.
Nel Marzo 2005, i residenti di Bil’in cominciarono ad organizzare quotidianamente azioni dirette e dimostrazioni contro il furto delle loro terre. Conquistando l’attenzione della comunitá internazionale grazie alla loro creativitá e persistenza, Bil’in ė diventato il simbolo della resistenza popolare. Circa cinque anni dopo, Bil’in continua a organizzare proteste settimanalmente, ogni Venerdi.
Bil’in ha ospitato conferenze annuali sul tema della resistenza popolare dal 2006, mettendo a dispozione un forum di discussione per attivisti, intellettuali e personaggi influenti, per discutere le strategie della lotta nonviolenta contro l’occupazione.
Le forze di sicurezza Israeliane hanno usato sound granades (granate che stordiscono a causa del rumore) e schock granades, cannoni ad acqua, proiettili di gomma, gas lacrimogeni e proiettili di calibro 0,22 contro i contestatori.
Il 17 Aprile 2009, Bassem Abu Rahma ė stato colpito in pieno petto da un gas lacrimogeno lanciato ad alta velocitá dall’esrcito Israeliano ed ė morto a causa delle ferite nell’ospedale di Ramallah.
Tra i 75 residenti di Bil’in arrestati in relazione alle dimostrazioni contro il muro, 27 sono stati arrestati durante una incursione notturna dell’esercito in data 23 Giugno 2009.
Nonostante le sue radici popolari, Bil’in si rivolse ai Giudici alla fine del 2005. Nel Settembre del 2007, due anni dopo aver iniziato i procedimenti legali, l’alta Corte Israeliana di Giustizia stabilí che a causa della costruzione illegale dell’insediamento Modi’in Illit, la costruzione delle abitazioni non avrebbe potuto essere completata e il percorso del muro avrebbe dovuto essere deviato alcune centinaia di metri ad Ovest, restituendo cosi il 25% delle terre al villaggio di Bilin. Ad oggi, la decisione dell’Alta Corte non ha ancora trovato applicazione e la costruzione dell’insediamento continua.
“Igual que un hombre sencillo llamado Gandhi lideró la exitosa lucha noviolenta en la India y gente sencilla como Rosa Parks y Nelson Mandela lideraron la lucha por los derechos civiles en los Estados Unidos y Sudáfrica, gente sencilla aquí en Bil’in están llevando a cabo una lucha noviolenta que les llevará a la libertad. La experiencia de Sudáfrica demuestra que la injusticia puede ser desmantelada.” – Arzobispo Desmond Tutu, durante una visita a Bil’in el 27 de Agosto de 2009
Adeeb Abu Rahmah, un activista principal y organizador del pueblo de Bil’in en Cisjordania, está detenido desde su arresto durante una manifestación el 10 de Julio de 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqaO8lFYuM0). Miles de activistas de solidaridad Israelíes e internacionales que se han manifestado junto con Adeeb contra el robo de las tierras de Bil’in durante los pasados cinco años pueden testificar su inquebrantable compromiso con la noviolencia y la acción digna.
Adeeb que ha estado detenido durante más de tres meses, no es sospechoso de cometer ningún tipo de violencia, sino que fue acusado por un cargo genérico de “incitación a la violencia”. Un juez había decidido inicialmente que Adeeb fuera liberado bajo condiciones restrictivas, pero una apelación presentada por el fiscal militar consiguió que la decisión fuera revocada y que permaneciera en prisión hasta el final del procedimiento legal. Los juicios a palestinos en tribunales militares israelíes a menudo tardan un año. Adeeb es el único sustento para sus 9 hijos, su esposa y su madre.
El arresto de Adeeb es parte del más reciente intento de los militares israelíes de aplastar la campaña en curso de resistencia popular noviolenta en Bil’in. Una oleada de incursiones nocturnas y arrestos de manifestantes y líderes del Comité Popular de Bil’in empezaron al mismo tiempo que la vista preliminar en un proceso contra dos compañías Canadienses responsables de la construcción de un asentamiento Israelí sobre tierra de Bil’in
El 23 de Junio de 2009, el Tribunal Canadiense escuchó las alegaciones preliminares de la querella presenta por Bil’in contra dos compañías registradas en Canadá (Green Park International & Green Mount International). El pueblo busca justicia contra la construcción de asentamientos en su tierra bajo la legislación canadiense del año 2000 de Crímenes contra la Humanidad y el Estatuto de Crímenes de Guerra.
Las fuerzas israelíes han arrestado a 27 habitantes, 11 de los cuales, tienen menos de 18 años. Dieciséis habitantes de Bil’in permanecen detenidos por Israel, nueve de los cuales son menores. Se ha informado que a algunos de los arrestados se les ha preguntado durante los interrogatorios, sobre la querella presentada en Canadá.
El abrumador apoyo y enérgicas protestas de la comunidad internacional han contribuido a lo que parece ser el fin de las incursiones nocturnas (la última tuvo lugar el 30 de Septiembre de 2009). A pesar de que los soldados han dejado de venir a arrestar a manifestantes durante la noche, las secuelas de las incursiones han dejado a Bil’in con grandes honorarios/fianzas legales y 16 habitantes todavía detenidos por los israelíes.
Los intentos de criminalizar a los líderes de las protestas no violentas fueron frenados anteriormente con la ayuda de un apoyo masivo por parte de gente comprometida con la justicia en todo el mundo.
Por favor protesta contactando con tus representantes políticos así como con tus cónsules y embajadores en Israel (http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Israel) para pedir enérgicamente que Israel deje de tener como objetivo la resistencia popular noviolenta y que liberen a Adeeb Abu Rahmah y a todos los prisioneros de Bil’in.
El Comité Popular de Bil’in necesita fondos para pagar los honorarios legales tanto del juicio en Montreal como para representar a los manifestantes arrestados ante los tribunales militares. Por favor haz tu aportación al fondo legal de Bil’in a través de PayPal. Si quieres hacer una donación deducible de impuestos en EEUU o Canadá, contacta con bilinlegal@gmail.com.
El Comité Popular de Bil’in contra el Muro y los Asentamientos
Antecedentes
El pueblo de Bil’in en Cisjordania está localizado a 12 Km. al oeste de Ramallah y 4 Km. al Este de la Línea Verde. Es un pueblo agrícola de unos 4.085 dunams (988 acres) de extensión y con unos 1.780 habitantes.
Aproximadamente el 55% de la tierra agrícola de Bil’in ha sido declarada ‘Tierra del Estado’ por Israel y confiscada para la construcción del bloque de asentamientos Modi’in Illit. Modi’in Illit tiene mayor población que cualquier otro bloque de asentamientos, con más de 42.000 habitantes con el plan de alcanzar una población de 150.000.
Antes de 1948, Bil’in tenía una extensión de 4.085 dunams. A principios de 1982 y de nuevo en 1991, les fueron quitados 1.980 dunams. 260dunams más les fueron quitados para construcción del Muro en 2005.
En 2004, la Corte Internacional de Justicia dictaminó que el Muro era contrario a la ley internacional, en particular, la Ley Humanitaria Internacional. El Tribunal declaró además que los asentamientos de Israel son ilegales bajo las mismas leyes, teniendo en cuenta que el trazado del Muro está íntimamente conectado a los asentamientos adyacentes a la Línea Verde, y además anexionaba el 12% de Cisjordania a Israel.
A pesar del dictamen, a principios de 2005, Israel empezó a construir el Muro de separación en tierra de Bil’in, cortando el pueblo por la mitad para situar allí Modi’in Illit y su futuro crecimiento en el “lado Israelí” del Muro.
En Marzo de 2005, los residentes de Bil’in empezaron a organizar acciones directas casi diarias y manifestaciones contra el robo de sus tierras. Ganándose la atención de la comunidad internacional con su creatividad y perseverancia, Bil’in se ha convertido en un símbolo de resistencia popular. Casi cinco años más tarde, Bil’in sigue manteniendo sus protestas semanales cada Viernes.
Bil’in ha celebrado conferencias anuales sobre Resistencia popular desde 2006, proporcionando un foro para activistas, intelectuales y líderes para debatir estrategias para la lucha noviolenta contra la Ocupación.
Las fuerzas israelíes han utilizado granadas de sonido y de impacto, cañones de agua, balas de acero forradas de goma, granadas de gases lacrimógenos, botes de humo, y balas letales de calibre 0.22 contra los manifestantes.
El 17 de Abril de 2009, a Bassem Abu Rahma, las fuerzas Israelíes le dispararon en el pecho con un proyectil de gas lacrimógeno de alta velocidad, a consecuencia de lo cual murió de sus heridas en un hospital de Ramallah.
De los 75 habitantes de Bil’in arrestados en relación con manifestaciones contra el Muro, 27 lo han sido a partir de la campaña de incursiones nocturnas que comenzó el ejército israelí el 23 de junio de 2009.
Además de este movimiento de base, Bil’in se dirigió a los Tribunales en otoño de 2005. En Septiembre de 2007, dos años después de haberse iniciado el procedimiento legal, el Tribunal Supremo Israelí de Justicia falló que debido a la construcción ilegal en parte de Modi’in Illit, no se podía terminar la construcción de casas y que el trazado del Muro debía ser movido varios cientos de metros al oeste, devolviendo el 25% de la tierra de Bil’in al pueblo. A día de hoy, la sentencia del Tribunal Supremo no ha sido ejecutada y la construcción del asentamiento sigue.
The 20th anniversary to the fall of the Berlin Wall will be marked this Friday in mass demonstrations across the West Bank calling for an immediate dismantling of Israel’s wall and settlements
Exactly twenty years ago, On 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall came crumbling down in two days that inspired hope for a world in which walls could no longer keep people apart. Today, a wall twice as high and five times as long is being built by
Israel in the West Bank, in blunt contempt of international law, to separate Palestinians from their lands.
Despite the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion from 2004, which had pronounced Israel’s wall illegal, and called for its removal, no significant changes on the ground were made.
The demonstrators raised a model of the Wall at the Wall itself, which stated that, as the Berlin Wall fell twenty years ago, the Bil’in Wall must fall today.
The anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall has been declared an international day of action against Israel’s barrier. Today the protesters called for its removal, and attempt to implement the ICJ’s decision.
Several demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation from canisters thrown at them by the Israeli occupation soldiers in their attempt to suppress the weekly protest of Bil’in citizens and solidarity groups.
The demonstration was called by the Popular Committee Against the Wall and started directly after the Friday prayers. Bil’in citizens were joined by a group of international and Israeli peace activists and together they raised Palestinian flags and banners condemning the occupation, racist policy of building the Wall and settlements, land confiscation, road closures and detention and killing of innocent people.
The Brecht-Eislerchoir of Brussels Belgium sung several songs of solidarity and resistance to support the struggle in Bilin. The choir has presented in Belgium a choral piece ,The Shouting Fence, on the Palestinian situation with text by Mahmoud Darwich. After the concerts we wanted to see with our own eyes what the effects are in the daily life of Palestininans. Our attendance in the demonstration in Bilin strengthens our commitment to the Palestinian struggle for freedom In this way we try to raise awareness in Belgium about the occupation and the apartheid wall. In addition to that we have anther group from Ireland from IPSC .
Two days before, a large group of European diplomats made a visit to Bil’in, and went to the Wall to see how it has stolen the villagers land. They then held a meeting with the Popular Committee where they heard about the affects of the IOF’s night raids into the village. Diplomats visited from Romania, France, Slovenia, Sweden, UK, Portugal, Denmark, Netherlands, Malta, Austria, Finland, Czech Republic, Poland, EU, Ireland and Belgium.
