Volume [4]
No. [1]
January 2007

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International Volunteers Needed in Palestine

By Mohammad Khatib, December 2006

For the last two years I have been a leader in the ‘popular non-violent’ struggle against the wall, the Israeli settlements and occupation near Bil’in, West Bank.

Bil’in is a Palestinian village that is struggling to exist. We are fighting to safeguard our land, our olive trees, our resources and liberty. The ‘Apartheid wall’ separates us from 60 % of our land and our olive trees. For many of us the olive trees are our main source of income and have been in our families for centuries.

While the Israeli government claims that the wall was built for their citizens’ protection, we see that the wall is actually a violent way of stealing our land and giving it to the settlers.

Every day it destroys a bit more, and is gradually turning Bil’in into an open air prison for its inhabitants. Every Friday, we demonstrate peacefully in front of the “work-site of shame”, and the Israeli army responds with violence, both physical and psychological.

Photo: S. Bloom

I see it as our duty to widen the popular non-violent resistance in the whole of Palestine, and use our experience to empower and convince activists that this kind of resistane is the way to Freedom. Bil’in has become a symbol that can be applied in
many other places.

I see all of you who believe in peace and justice around the world as my partners. I see you taking an active place in our struggle, taking the next step from solidarity to active participation. Please join in our demonstrations, and take part in our 2nd annual ‘popular non-violent’ conference. The conference will be held on April 18-20, 2007. This conference seeks to create a network that will improve coordination, share resources, launch joint campaigns to stop the Apartheid Wall, and work for justice. For more information please see our website: http://www.bilin-village.org/ or www.palsolidarity.org

Mohammad Khatib is an ISM activist in the
Occupied West Bank