This latest posting from an Anarchist Against the Wall organizer about yesterday’s 110th Friday demo in Bil’in points out that “still surprises occur.” The apparent return of a former Israeli commander brings with it a return to more confrontational tactics against the nonviolent protesters.
As readers of this blog know, I continue to follow Bil’in’s struggle against the separation barrier that prevents villagers from reaching their land, now controlled by the large Jewish settlement of Modi’in Ilit which is expanding in violation of the Israeli Supreme Court determination that new construction is illegal. I first visited Bil’in shortly before construction of the fence began more than two years ago, when villagers still hoped Israeli courts would prevent the illegal land grab. I returned twice during my most recent visit. The villagers’ determination after all this time remains inspiring; their continued invitation to Israeli anti-occupation activists to join them remains a prime example of political cooperation across the Green Line.
Bil’in’s tale of persistent nonviolent protest while religious Jews move into new apartment buildings constructed illegally even under Israeli law symbolizes many of the frustrations facing anyone who’d like to see Jews and Muslims live harmoniously in the region. The power imbalance is stark, though, making harmony increasingly difficult to envision.