Bilin Laughs Off Military Threats. Dr Barghouthi at Friday's demonstration

Bi’lin, home of the popular resistance movement, has endured many challenges to the weekly demonstrations for which it is famed. During more than five years of protest against the apartheid wall, injury, imprisonment and death have become regular hazards for the residents and activists who support the campaign.

Yet their struggles have not been without reward. Last month, more than two years a supreme court decision ordering the army to re-route the wall, work finally began which will see around a third of the village’s stolen land returned. Mohammed Khatib of the popular committee described it as a “small step”.

This week the army tried a new tack, posting flyers all over the village declaring Bi’lin a closed military zone between 8am and 8pm on Friday, stating any unauthorised entrants could be arrested. The move represented an effort to deter supporters who converge on the village each week. Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, secretary general of Palestinian National Initiative, expressed concern before the rally; “this declaration may be used as a justification for the vicious use of violence against peaceful demonstrators, which is probably what they intend to do. But on the other hand I can tell you it will stop us, the people here or internationals. On the contrary we are determined to continue the struggle and to continue non-violent resistance to show it is effective.” He went on to suggest the new policy reflected the “effectiveness of the non-violent campaign. We hope non-violence and the BDS campaign will help to change reality as it did in South Africa.

Dr. Barghouthi believes the oppressive measure represents part of a wider strategy. “Israel will continue to conduct one violation after another, because they are not interested in peace, just the implementation of facts on the ground. It was wrong for the USA to pressure the Palestinian Authority into talks without a settlement freeze as it will make Israel feel they have domesticated Palestinians. If the Quartet, which is meeting in Moscow, does not take action and sanctions, they become a participant in the occupation.”

Despite the declaration, around 80 demonstrators marched unopposed to the barrier. Even when youths began climbing over the wall, they met no military presence. Although a few volleys of tear gas were directed from the East side of the barrier, the event passed as peacefully as any of those before it. There were no arrests, despite the warnings. “This gives the lie to their claims”, said one Swiss activist, who wished to remain unnamed; “to impose a rule they cannot enforce shows the weakness and thoughtlessness of the army.” One resident suggested he might make T-shirts out of the ‘closed military zone’ posters. The army will have to come up with another idea.