The Israeli media reported all the week about the illegal confiscation of the lands of Bil'in for the settler town Modi'in Ilit. One day the construction of housed on it were even stopped by authority.
The Israeli occupation "civil authority" which was supposed to decide on Thursday to destroy the Bil'in center for joint struggle for peace on a piece of land of Bil'in West side of the separation fence was postponed for another two weeks. They seem to decide not to do that before the Israeli highest court of "justice" about the use of the fence to annex Bil'in lands to Israel and the settler town Modi'in Illit.
The Friday demo of Bil'in was supposed to march from the center of the village to the center for joint struggle for peace on the other side of the separation fence. At noon, we started marching - few hundreds people, Palestinians from Bil'in and others, about 45 Israelis from the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative and others, and about 25 Internationals.
When we arrived near the route of the separation fence the Israeli armed forces blocked our way to the Bil'in center for joint struggle for peace. They pushed violently any one who try to advance and got into confrontation with plenty of tear gas grenades with the village youth who responded to the blocking of the way with stones.
After about an hour or so the demonstration was declared finished and we returned to the village before returning home.
Friday, January 6, 2006
Friday, December 30, 2005
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle in Abud and Bil'in is intensified - 30-12-05
In the last Friday too the activists of the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative and the people who join us split forces. The main locations were as usual the last Fridays, Abud (near the village Rantis) and Bil'in (near Modi'in Elit settlers town. The activity in Bil'in was centered - like the last 10 days, around the new structure of the Bil'in center for joint struggle for peace, located few hundreds meter on the west side of the fence which separate the Bil'in village (on the East side of the fence from most of its olive orchards - gradually uprooted to make place for the Israeli orthodox settlement town. The struggle took a strange and unexpected turn when at Sunday night of the second coming of the center, while it was raining and the Israeli state forces were not wise to it, the activists there built a 3X5 meter structure.
Because Bil'in is in the center of attention of the Israeli media and present in the international media too, and its case is supposed to come before the highest Israel court of "justice" for verdict - the state forces hesitate a lot. They confiscated the second container on Monday, but refrained from eviction and destruction of the structure. They even refrained from harassing people and preventing movement to the center both from Bil'in on the other side of the route of the fence or from the Israeli side.
Since the army decree for stopping the enlargement of the building and dating a hearing on 5.1.06 activists and guests congregate in the center and in its "court yard". Few Israelis and Palestinians stayed there at nights to be on the safe side and for strengthening the point.
Friday morning, we got out of the sleeping bags for another day of activity in the center to the blessing of "Sabakh El Heir" (good morning) from the comrades who stayed all the night around the small fire adjacent to the structure - after the guests and other activists present during the day returned to Bil'in or their homes. The blessing was accompanied with a morning coffee and tea to smooth the beginning of a new day.
Not much later, people from Bil'in, from Israel, and from further away started to congregate.
First came a group of Bil'in women of the activists families with children and materials for the promised meal. Very soon, the smell of the baking in the portable taboon were all around mixed with the sounds of joy of the young children playing around. Then, the bigger crowd start to arrive - both people from Bil'in and Israel, and few special guests - including Cindy and Craig Corry, parents of the late American peace activist murdered by Israeli state forces at the Gaza strip. Present as well were also Palestinian political figures Kaddoura Fares, Mustafa Barghouti, and Kais Abu Leila.
All these hours, the Israeli occupation forces who increased their numbers in the vicinity kept a clear distance, but refrained - like the other days of the week from harassing the people or blocking the free movement to the center and from it - both for the people of Bil'in (who cross the route of the separation fence days and nights), and for the Israelis who come through the settlement town. They even kept bigger distance than the armored car who spies on the center days and nights to see it will not be enlarged.
Towards noon, after a lot of nonformal contacts, small meeting circles and explanation to both media, guests from abroad, and Israeli first comers, and after the food distribution there was a general meeting of about two hundreds people, which was followed by a Friday noon prier of most of the Bil'inians.
After the prier, people continue with small circles get together while most of the people of Bil'in started to return to the village.
Even in this activity a score of youngsters were reluctant to miss the weekly confrontation of stone throwing with the soldiers tear gas grenades... They climbed on a high pile of construction gravel facing the further away state forces and starting to through towards the soldiers... Though the state forces were too far away, to be on the safe side, the activists of the Bil'in village popular comity "herded" the youngsters away and made them return to the village.
At the afternoon, most of the people left the location leaving some activists to "hold the post".
Because Bil'in is in the center of attention of the Israeli media and present in the international media too, and its case is supposed to come before the highest Israel court of "justice" for verdict - the state forces hesitate a lot. They confiscated the second container on Monday, but refrained from eviction and destruction of the structure. They even refrained from harassing people and preventing movement to the center both from Bil'in on the other side of the route of the fence or from the Israeli side.
Since the army decree for stopping the enlargement of the building and dating a hearing on 5.1.06 activists and guests congregate in the center and in its "court yard". Few Israelis and Palestinians stayed there at nights to be on the safe side and for strengthening the point.
Friday morning, we got out of the sleeping bags for another day of activity in the center to the blessing of "Sabakh El Heir" (good morning) from the comrades who stayed all the night around the small fire adjacent to the structure - after the guests and other activists present during the day returned to Bil'in or their homes. The blessing was accompanied with a morning coffee and tea to smooth the beginning of a new day.
Not much later, people from Bil'in, from Israel, and from further away started to congregate.
First came a group of Bil'in women of the activists families with children and materials for the promised meal. Very soon, the smell of the baking in the portable taboon were all around mixed with the sounds of joy of the young children playing around. Then, the bigger crowd start to arrive - both people from Bil'in and Israel, and few special guests - including Cindy and Craig Corry, parents of the late American peace activist murdered by Israeli state forces at the Gaza strip. Present as well were also Palestinian political figures Kaddoura Fares, Mustafa Barghouti, and Kais Abu Leila.
All these hours, the Israeli occupation forces who increased their numbers in the vicinity kept a clear distance, but refrained - like the other days of the week from harassing the people or blocking the free movement to the center and from it - both for the people of Bil'in (who cross the route of the separation fence days and nights), and for the Israelis who come through the settlement town. They even kept bigger distance than the armored car who spies on the center days and nights to see it will not be enlarged.
Towards noon, after a lot of nonformal contacts, small meeting circles and explanation to both media, guests from abroad, and Israeli first comers, and after the food distribution there was a general meeting of about two hundreds people, which was followed by a Friday noon prier of most of the Bil'inians.
After the prier, people continue with small circles get together while most of the people of Bil'in started to return to the village.
Even in this activity a score of youngsters were reluctant to miss the weekly confrontation of stone throwing with the soldiers tear gas grenades... They climbed on a high pile of construction gravel facing the further away state forces and starting to through towards the soldiers... Though the state forces were too far away, to be on the safe side, the activists of the Bil'in village popular comity "herded" the youngsters away and made them return to the village.
At the afternoon, most of the people left the location leaving some activists to "hold the post".
Monday, December 26, 2005
Palestine-Israel, Bil'in, Media do not let the joint struggle to be ignored: Bil'in demonstrators return to outpost 26 Dec
A group of 22 Israeli and Palestinian demonstrators lit Hannuka candles Sunday night at an illegal caravan erected for a second time near the West Bank settlement of Modi'in Elite.
The lighting of the first candle at this spot, said Yossi Bartal, an activist from Anarchists against the Wall, represented "the fight for freedom from occupation."
The group's choice in symbols was a provocative one given that the Maccabean revolt that Hannukah commemorates broke out in ancient Judean town of Modi'in. Likewise, the caravan was located adjacent to the new neighborhood of East Mattityahu, named after the rebellion's famed patriarch priest.
But protesters contended that the victims nowadays were the Palestinian residents of the village of Bil'in, a half a kilometer away.
The route of the security fence blocks villagers from their farm land and protects ever-expanding settlements, they said.
"The barrier cuts off Bil'in from one-half to two-thirds of its agricultural land and is meant to protect the settlements of Kiryat Sefer and Modi'in Elite," said Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Ascherman, who heads Rabbis for Human Rights, a left-wing association that has also trumpeted the cause of Bil'in, said that the caravan was illegal - but so were the new settlement neighborhoods.
Both were set up without government permits, he said.
Last Thursday, about 50 activists barricaded themselves in a similar outpost at the same location, but soldiers removed the caravan, and police briefly detained seven demonstrators.
The expansion in the East Mattityahu neighborhood went unhindered.
"The quick evacuation of the first outpost, within 24 hours of it being set up, exposes the blatant policies of Apartheid and selective enforcement going on in the Occupied Territories," said Yonatan Pollack, another anarchist.
Pollack promised that Sunday's caravan "will become the foundation stone for a West Bil'in."
At the last outpost demonstration, soldiers fired tear gas to keep additional protesters from reaching the caravan, but this time around, a police and IDF jeep passed by without responding.
Military sources said the outpost, like the last one, "would be removed by the police and the IDF Civil Administration."
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http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1134309646601&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/662203.html
The lighting of the first candle at this spot, said Yossi Bartal, an activist from Anarchists against the Wall, represented "the fight for freedom from occupation."
The group's choice in symbols was a provocative one given that the Maccabean revolt that Hannukah commemorates broke out in ancient Judean town of Modi'in. Likewise, the caravan was located adjacent to the new neighborhood of East Mattityahu, named after the rebellion's famed patriarch priest.
But protesters contended that the victims nowadays were the Palestinian residents of the village of Bil'in, a half a kilometer away.
The route of the security fence blocks villagers from their farm land and protects ever-expanding settlements, they said.
"The barrier cuts off Bil'in from one-half to two-thirds of its agricultural land and is meant to protect the settlements of Kiryat Sefer and Modi'in Elite," said Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Ascherman, who heads Rabbis for Human Rights, a left-wing association that has also trumpeted the cause of Bil'in, said that the caravan was illegal - but so were the new settlement neighborhoods.
Both were set up without government permits, he said.
Last Thursday, about 50 activists barricaded themselves in a similar outpost at the same location, but soldiers removed the caravan, and police briefly detained seven demonstrators.
The expansion in the East Mattityahu neighborhood went unhindered.
"The quick evacuation of the first outpost, within 24 hours of it being set up, exposes the blatant policies of Apartheid and selective enforcement going on in the Occupied Territories," said Yonatan Pollack, another anarchist.
Pollack promised that Sunday's caravan "will become the foundation stone for a West Bil'in."
At the last outpost demonstration, soldiers fired tear gas to keep additional protesters from reaching the caravan, but this time around, a police and IDF jeep passed by without responding.
Military sources said the outpost, like the last one, "would be removed by the police and the IDF Civil Administration."
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http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1134309646601&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/662203.html
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Palestine-Israel, Bil'in, Media: activists rebuild the center for joint struggle for peace outpost in occupied lands 25 Dec
The first outpost which was established last Wdnesday morning was destroyed Thursday evening. See (en) Palestine-Israel, Media, Haaretz, Bil'in residents set up 'outpost' west of separation fence - http://ainfos.ca/05/dec/ainfos00279.html
and: (en) Palestine-Israel, Bil'in, the joint struggle against the separation fence intensify towards the highest court decision at 1st February http://ainfos.ca/05/dec/ainfos00296.html
Palestinian residents of the West Bank town of Bil'in along with left-wing activists have rebuilt an "outpost" Sunday two days after the Israel Defense Forces removed the container from the identical spot west of the route of the separation fence near the settlement of Upper Modi'in.
Last week, the Palestinians erected the outpost as part of their plan to establish a "center for the joint struggle for peace." They even brought cement to the site, adding that they intend to build "the western neighborhood of Bil'in."
An IDF spokesperson that the army evacuated the container because it was placed in a closed military zone and that "it is forbidden to transport caravans" in the territories.
"Private Palestinian land is in question here, not state land. The village council approved setting up a caravan and thus this is a legal structure," Attorney Michael Sfard, who represents the Bil'in residents, said last week.
"This will be blatant proof of the fact that there is selective law enforcement if they deal with the poor caravan before the hundreds of housing units built illegally in Upper Modi'in," he added.
Sfard submitted a letter in the name of Peace Now to the Civil Administration demanding a halt to the construction within a week. At the end of this time, Sfard wrote in the letter, he will turn to the Supreme Court.
"After what happened today in Bil'in, there is no reason that the state should defend its decision to continue the construction" in Matitiyahu, Sfard said.
"Now the truth is out, and the truth is that Jews are allowed to break the law and Palestinians are not.
"This," Sfard continued, "is called apartheid."
and: (en) Palestine-Israel, Bil'in, the joint struggle against the separation fence intensify towards the highest court decision at 1st February http://ainfos.ca/05/dec/ainfos00296.html
Palestinian residents of the West Bank town of Bil'in along with left-wing activists have rebuilt an "outpost" Sunday two days after the Israel Defense Forces removed the container from the identical spot west of the route of the separation fence near the settlement of Upper Modi'in.
Last week, the Palestinians erected the outpost as part of their plan to establish a "center for the joint struggle for peace." They even brought cement to the site, adding that they intend to build "the western neighborhood of Bil'in."
An IDF spokesperson that the army evacuated the container because it was placed in a closed military zone and that "it is forbidden to transport caravans" in the territories.
"Private Palestinian land is in question here, not state land. The village council approved setting up a caravan and thus this is a legal structure," Attorney Michael Sfard, who represents the Bil'in residents, said last week.
"This will be blatant proof of the fact that there is selective law enforcement if they deal with the poor caravan before the hundreds of housing units built illegally in Upper Modi'in," he added.
Sfard submitted a letter in the name of Peace Now to the Civil Administration demanding a halt to the construction within a week. At the end of this time, Sfard wrote in the letter, he will turn to the Supreme Court.
"After what happened today in Bil'in, there is no reason that the state should defend its decision to continue the construction" in Matitiyahu, Sfard said.
"Now the truth is out, and the truth is that Jews are allowed to break the law and Palestinians are not.
"This," Sfard continued, "is called apartheid."
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Palestine-Israel, Bil'in, the joint struggle against the separation fence intensify towards the highest court decision at 1st February 24 Dec
The outpost which was built on the lands of Bil'in on the west side of the separation fence - adjacent to the illegal building site of the settlement town Modi'in Elit, on the robbed lands of Bil'in, existed a day and a half. The outpost that was named "Bil'in center for the joint struggle for peace" got lot of Israeli and international media cover. During its short time existence till it was destroyed, it was held mainly by activists of Bil'in and Israelis of the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative. A nice surprise was the friendly visit of 5 orthodox Jews from the already inhabited area of the settlement. Thursday evening, the armed forces of Israel brought to the outpost about 150 police, soldiers, and fire brigade personnel. They force entered the big metal container used as the out post center, and after detaining the people confiscated it and took it away.
Most of the activists involved were released immediately except 7 of the Israelis who were among the people in the outpost structure or on its roof, who were taken to the Givat Zeev police station. When it was announced in Bil'in that the outpost was destroyed, few hundreds marched towards the separation fence and confronted the Israeli armed forces there, who dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas grenades. Few hours later, the 7 Israelis were released though they refused to sign a bail with the usual condition that they will not return to Bil'in for two weeks.
The usual Friday demonstration was held nearly as usual. The theme of this demo was similar to the one of the previous week - the illegal building of settlement on the lands robbed from Bil'in villagers using the separation fence. At the front of the demo people held a big three languages banner: "This is an illegal construction". Participated in it about 100 people of Bil'in, about 70 Israelis mobilized by the anarchists against the wall initiative, about 20 international activists and about 10 from the Bir-Zeit university. Because of the frequent rain showers, many of the participant held umbrellas, while marching and chanting and singing.
As usual, the armed state forces blocked our way on the road about 50 meters from the route of the fence, but though they pushed the people brutally, they could not prevent us from constructing a big tent on the side of the road. This tent was announced as replacement to the center for joint struggle for peace destroyed the evening before the other side of the fence.
And as usual, participants of the demo tried to reach the route of the fence through the olive orchards on the side of the road. And as usual, the armed forces pushed the people back and showed us and read loudly the document declaring the region closed for Israelis... and as usual no one took it seriously - not even when the level of brutality escalated and four of us were injured and needed medical treatment.
And as usual, not far from the nonviolent demonstration, youngsters confronted with stone throwing the soldiers who responded by shooting at them tear gas canisters....
During the nonviolent demonstration and the violent actions of the state forces two Israelis and one Palestinian were detained. The Israelis were released on the spot at the end of the demonstration while the Palestinian comrade was taken to the Givat Zeev police station with intention to relocate him to the Ofer concentration camp.
After three hours of verbal and physical confrontation with the armed forces and frequent raining showers, it was announced that the demo was ended but the big tent that was declared as a replacement for the center for joint struggle for peace destroyed the evening before on the other side of the fence will stay and be held by Bil'inians and Israelis - at least till the confiscated container of the outpost will be returned.
Media Report: Security forces beat four protesters near Bil'in village http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/661809.html
Protesters clashing with IDF troops during a protest against the security fence near the West Bank village of Bil'in on Friday. http://www.haaretz.com/hasite/images/iht_daily/D231205/bilin2.jpg Security forces beat four anti-fence protesters near the West Bank village of Bil'in, and one of them was beaten after he was arrested, demonstrators in the area said Friday.
Three of the protesters were lightly hurt and the condition of the arrested demonstrator is unknown.
The clashes erupted Friday after 200 Israelis, Palestinians and foreigners tried to arrive at Bil'in in order to erect a protest tent against the expansion of the settlement of Upper Modi'in on lands confiscated from the Palestinian residents of Bil'in.
On Thursday Israel Defense Forces troops evacuated some 50 left-wing activists who had barricaded themselves inside a caravan "outpost" built near the Bil'in on land cut off from the village by the separation fence.
The fence cuts village residents off from approximately half of their lands.
According to activists at the scene, the IDF force numbered some 150 troops, who broke into the caravan using sledgehammers and chains. The caravan was later lifted in the air by a crane to prevent people from returning.
Several activists were also detained for questioning. The activists inside the caravan included 30 Palestinians and 20 left-wing Israeli activists.
The caravan was situated on land adjacent to the Matityahu East neighborhood of Upper Modi'in, where hundreds of illegal Jewish housing units have recently been constructed.
Security sources said that it was clear to them that immediately after the evacuation, they would need to explain to the court why they are hurrying to act against Palestinian illegal construction and tarrying on curbing illegal construction in the settlements.
According to one of the sources, the Palestinian outpost "turned into a security problem the moment there was no fence separating the caravan dwellers from Israeli territory."
Bil'in has become the symbol of the struggle against the separation fence, serving as the site of dozens of joint Palestinian-Israeli demonstrations in the past year. Some of the demonstrations have ended in violent altercations with security forces.
Dealing with the caravan is liable to be an embarrassment for the IDF and the Civil Administration.
Akiva Eldar of Haaretz recently exposed the Civil Administration's admission that 750 housing units had been built illegally with no permits whatsoever. The caravan, which arrived Wednesday from inside Israel, was standing approximately 100 meters away from the Matityahu East construction site.
According to the law, the Civil Administration can take down the container within a month of its placement without legal proceedings. But the IDF is well aware that if this is done, the Palestinians will formally accuse the Civil Administration of discrimination in hurrying to dismantle a lone Palestinian caravan while ignoring hundreds of illegal units in an adjacent Jewish neighborhood.
Civil Administration sources said that the construction in Upper Modi'in is indeed illegal and "the head of the Administration is examining its options to address the situation."
Most of the activists involved were released immediately except 7 of the Israelis who were among the people in the outpost structure or on its roof, who were taken to the Givat Zeev police station. When it was announced in Bil'in that the outpost was destroyed, few hundreds marched towards the separation fence and confronted the Israeli armed forces there, who dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas grenades. Few hours later, the 7 Israelis were released though they refused to sign a bail with the usual condition that they will not return to Bil'in for two weeks.
The usual Friday demonstration was held nearly as usual. The theme of this demo was similar to the one of the previous week - the illegal building of settlement on the lands robbed from Bil'in villagers using the separation fence. At the front of the demo people held a big three languages banner: "This is an illegal construction". Participated in it about 100 people of Bil'in, about 70 Israelis mobilized by the anarchists against the wall initiative, about 20 international activists and about 10 from the Bir-Zeit university. Because of the frequent rain showers, many of the participant held umbrellas, while marching and chanting and singing.
As usual, the armed state forces blocked our way on the road about 50 meters from the route of the fence, but though they pushed the people brutally, they could not prevent us from constructing a big tent on the side of the road. This tent was announced as replacement to the center for joint struggle for peace destroyed the evening before the other side of the fence.
And as usual, participants of the demo tried to reach the route of the fence through the olive orchards on the side of the road. And as usual, the armed forces pushed the people back and showed us and read loudly the document declaring the region closed for Israelis... and as usual no one took it seriously - not even when the level of brutality escalated and four of us were injured and needed medical treatment.
And as usual, not far from the nonviolent demonstration, youngsters confronted with stone throwing the soldiers who responded by shooting at them tear gas canisters....
During the nonviolent demonstration and the violent actions of the state forces two Israelis and one Palestinian were detained. The Israelis were released on the spot at the end of the demonstration while the Palestinian comrade was taken to the Givat Zeev police station with intention to relocate him to the Ofer concentration camp.
After three hours of verbal and physical confrontation with the armed forces and frequent raining showers, it was announced that the demo was ended but the big tent that was declared as a replacement for the center for joint struggle for peace destroyed the evening before on the other side of the fence will stay and be held by Bil'inians and Israelis - at least till the confiscated container of the outpost will be returned.
Media Report: Security forces beat four protesters near Bil'in village http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/661809.html
Protesters clashing with IDF troops during a protest against the security fence near the West Bank village of Bil'in on Friday. http://www.haaretz.com/hasite/images/iht_daily/D231205/bilin2.jpg Security forces beat four anti-fence protesters near the West Bank village of Bil'in, and one of them was beaten after he was arrested, demonstrators in the area said Friday.
Three of the protesters were lightly hurt and the condition of the arrested demonstrator is unknown.
The clashes erupted Friday after 200 Israelis, Palestinians and foreigners tried to arrive at Bil'in in order to erect a protest tent against the expansion of the settlement of Upper Modi'in on lands confiscated from the Palestinian residents of Bil'in.
On Thursday Israel Defense Forces troops evacuated some 50 left-wing activists who had barricaded themselves inside a caravan "outpost" built near the Bil'in on land cut off from the village by the separation fence.
The fence cuts village residents off from approximately half of their lands.
According to activists at the scene, the IDF force numbered some 150 troops, who broke into the caravan using sledgehammers and chains. The caravan was later lifted in the air by a crane to prevent people from returning.
Several activists were also detained for questioning. The activists inside the caravan included 30 Palestinians and 20 left-wing Israeli activists.
The caravan was situated on land adjacent to the Matityahu East neighborhood of Upper Modi'in, where hundreds of illegal Jewish housing units have recently been constructed.
Security sources said that it was clear to them that immediately after the evacuation, they would need to explain to the court why they are hurrying to act against Palestinian illegal construction and tarrying on curbing illegal construction in the settlements.
According to one of the sources, the Palestinian outpost "turned into a security problem the moment there was no fence separating the caravan dwellers from Israeli territory."
Bil'in has become the symbol of the struggle against the separation fence, serving as the site of dozens of joint Palestinian-Israeli demonstrations in the past year. Some of the demonstrations have ended in violent altercations with security forces.
Dealing with the caravan is liable to be an embarrassment for the IDF and the Civil Administration.
Akiva Eldar of Haaretz recently exposed the Civil Administration's admission that 750 housing units had been built illegally with no permits whatsoever. The caravan, which arrived Wednesday from inside Israel, was standing approximately 100 meters away from the Matityahu East construction site.
According to the law, the Civil Administration can take down the container within a month of its placement without legal proceedings. But the IDF is well aware that if this is done, the Palestinians will formally accuse the Civil Administration of discrimination in hurrying to dismantle a lone Palestinian caravan while ignoring hundreds of illegal units in an adjacent Jewish neighborhood.
Civil Administration sources said that the construction in Upper Modi'in is indeed illegal and "the head of the Administration is examining its options to address the situation."
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Palestine-Israel, Media, Haaretz, Bil'in residents set up 'outpost' west of separation fence 21 Dec
Settlers aren't the only ones building outposts in the West Bank: Palestinians from the village of Bil'in, near Ramallah, on Wednesday set up a caravan on land isolated from the village by the separation fence. Israel Defense Forces troops are gearing up to evacuate the caravan, military sources say. Dozens of Bil'in residents, accompanied by Israeli* and international activists, set out Wednesday morning to place the caravan on land adjacent to the settlement of Upper Modi'in.
Mohammed Khateb, a member of Bil'in's Popular Committee Against the Wall, said that the container was placed on land belonging to a village resident and comes with a building permit from Bil'in village council.
The fence cuts village residents from approximately half of their lands.
Khateb also said that the committee intends to establish a "center for the joint struggle for peace," where the caravan stands.
Bil'in has become the symbol of the struggle against the separation fence, serving as the site of dozens of joint Palestinian-Israeli demonstrations in the past year. Some of the demonstrations have ended in violent altercations with security forces.
Dealing with the caravan is liable to be an embarrassment for the IDF and the Civil Administration. The container is adjacent to the Matityahu East neighborhood of Upper Modi'in, where hundreds of illegal housing units have recently been constructed.
Akiva Eldar of Haaretz recently exposed the Civil Administration's admission that 750 housing units had been built illegally with no permits whatsoever. The caravan, which arrived Wednesday from inside Israel, is standing approximately 100 meters away from the Matityahu East construction site.
According to the law, the Civil Administration can take down the container within a month of its placement with no need for legal proceedings. But the IDF is well aware that if this is done, the Palestinians will formally accuse the Civil Administration of discrimination in hurrying to dismantle a lone Palestinian caravan while ignoring hundreds of illegal units in an adjacent Jewish neighborhood.
"Private Palestinian land is in question here, not state land. The village council approved setting up a caravan and thus this is a legal structure," said attorney Michael Sfard, who represents the village residents.
"This will be blatant proof of the fact that there is selective law enforcement if they deal with the poor caravan before the hundreds of housing units built illegally in Upper Modi'in," he added.
Sfard submitted a letter in the name of Peace Now to the Civil Administration demanding a halt to the construction within a week. At the end of this time, Sepharad writes in the letter, he will turn to the Supreme Court.
Civil Administration sources said that the construction in Upper Modi'in is indeed illegal and "the head of the Administration is examining its options to address the situation."
As for the caravan, military sources say the army has no intention of violently struggling with the residents, but say that the container will be taken down.
The same sources say that they are aware that as soon as the caravan is dismantled, they will need to explain to the court why they are rushing to act against illegal Palestinian construction while taking their time in dealing with unlawful building by settlers.
============================
* The caravan placement is part of the intensified activity of the joint struggle of the Bil'in's Popular Committee Against the Wall and the Israeli Anarchists Against The Wall against the separation fence in the region, against the building of settler colonialist out posts and against occupation. The activity is intensified as preparation for the Israeli highest court verdict on Bil'in chalenge of the route of the separation fence due at the 1st of February.
Mohammed Khateb, a member of Bil'in's Popular Committee Against the Wall, said that the container was placed on land belonging to a village resident and comes with a building permit from Bil'in village council.
The fence cuts village residents from approximately half of their lands.
Khateb also said that the committee intends to establish a "center for the joint struggle for peace," where the caravan stands.
Bil'in has become the symbol of the struggle against the separation fence, serving as the site of dozens of joint Palestinian-Israeli demonstrations in the past year. Some of the demonstrations have ended in violent altercations with security forces.
Dealing with the caravan is liable to be an embarrassment for the IDF and the Civil Administration. The container is adjacent to the Matityahu East neighborhood of Upper Modi'in, where hundreds of illegal housing units have recently been constructed.
Akiva Eldar of Haaretz recently exposed the Civil Administration's admission that 750 housing units had been built illegally with no permits whatsoever. The caravan, which arrived Wednesday from inside Israel, is standing approximately 100 meters away from the Matityahu East construction site.
According to the law, the Civil Administration can take down the container within a month of its placement with no need for legal proceedings. But the IDF is well aware that if this is done, the Palestinians will formally accuse the Civil Administration of discrimination in hurrying to dismantle a lone Palestinian caravan while ignoring hundreds of illegal units in an adjacent Jewish neighborhood.
"Private Palestinian land is in question here, not state land. The village council approved setting up a caravan and thus this is a legal structure," said attorney Michael Sfard, who represents the village residents.
"This will be blatant proof of the fact that there is selective law enforcement if they deal with the poor caravan before the hundreds of housing units built illegally in Upper Modi'in," he added.
Sfard submitted a letter in the name of Peace Now to the Civil Administration demanding a halt to the construction within a week. At the end of this time, Sepharad writes in the letter, he will turn to the Supreme Court.
Civil Administration sources said that the construction in Upper Modi'in is indeed illegal and "the head of the Administration is examining its options to address the situation."
As for the caravan, military sources say the army has no intention of violently struggling with the residents, but say that the container will be taken down.
The same sources say that they are aware that as soon as the caravan is dismantled, they will need to explain to the court why they are rushing to act against illegal Palestinian construction while taking their time in dealing with unlawful building by settlers.
============================
* The caravan placement is part of the intensified activity of the joint struggle of the Bil'in's Popular Committee Against the Wall and the Israeli Anarchists Against The Wall against the separation fence in the region, against the building of settler colonialist out posts and against occupation. The activity is intensified as preparation for the Israeli highest court verdict on Bil'in chalenge of the route of the separation fence due at the 1st of February.
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle in Bi'in continue. 21-12-05
The joint struggle of the Bil'in village commity against the separation fence and the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative continue... and escalate towards the Israeli highest court of "justice" that supposed to give a verdict at February 1st, 2006. Today at 8 am in the morning the center of bil'in to joint struggle for peace was established in a caravan that is now on the lands of bil'in, in the middle of the illegal contraction of the settlement modiin elit. At the center, at the moment are people from the village, israeli activists and international activists who plan to stay in the place for a long term. The police and the army are now checking the legal status of the issue. If staying will be relevant we will be happy for people that will volunteer to stay in the center. If you can come please contact mijal, or elad.
Anyway, during the first hours we want to be sure that the caravan won't be removed, for that we ask you to come only with previous coordination
See u soon,
Last information: the forces left the area.
Electronic media (walla.co.il, nrg.co.il, and ynet.co.il) reported on the struggle.
It reported that the caravan was placed adjacent to the illegal construction area of the settler city Modi'in Elit (on the lands of Bil'in - the separation fence help to rob).
It add that the activists showed the state force a permit for the caravan issued by the Bil'in municipality the area is still formally under its jurisdiction....
The Israeli state forces demanded the evacuation of the caravan... but went away after they were sown the permit and heard the demand to stop of the illegal building on Bil'in lands as was promised by the "Israeli occupation civilian authority" a week ago.
It quoted Abdallah Abu-Rahma of the village popular committee: This is Palestinian land, and in this caravan we will place in the future a Palestinian family".
As link to this on-line report, it put the following information:
"A soldier of the border police had falsely accused a Palestinian to justify shooting"
It is related to a post from months ago in which a soldier shoot Palestinian participant in the joint Friday demos, with a rubber bullet claiming as a justification the said person threw stones....
As many of the Israeli activists video the demonstration, they supplied clips that contradict the soldier.
The Palestinian comrade was acquitted, and the "policemen investigation section" claimed the soldier will be taken to court....
Anyway, during the first hours we want to be sure that the caravan won't be removed, for that we ask you to come only with previous coordination
See u soon,
Last information: the forces left the area.
Electronic media (walla.co.il, nrg.co.il, and ynet.co.il) reported on the struggle.
It reported that the caravan was placed adjacent to the illegal construction area of the settler city Modi'in Elit (on the lands of Bil'in - the separation fence help to rob).
It add that the activists showed the state force a permit for the caravan issued by the Bil'in municipality the area is still formally under its jurisdiction....
The Israeli state forces demanded the evacuation of the caravan... but went away after they were sown the permit and heard the demand to stop of the illegal building on Bil'in lands as was promised by the "Israeli occupation civilian authority" a week ago.
It quoted Abdallah Abu-Rahma of the village popular committee: This is Palestinian land, and in this caravan we will place in the future a Palestinian family".
As link to this on-line report, it put the following information:
"A soldier of the border police had falsely accused a Palestinian to justify shooting"
It is related to a post from months ago in which a soldier shoot Palestinian participant in the joint Friday demos, with a rubber bullet claiming as a justification the said person threw stones....
As many of the Israeli activists video the demonstration, they supplied clips that contradict the soldier.
The Palestinian comrade was acquitted, and the "policemen investigation section" claimed the soldier will be taken to court....
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