BILIN, West Bank, 9 September 2007 — Hundreds of Palestinian, Israeli, and international peace activists rallied in the West Bank village of Bilin late Friday to celebrate the Israeli Supreme Court decision to order the Israeli government to change the separation wall’s route in the area which led to an annexation of their agricultural lands.
Palestinian Authority officials, including Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and several ministers, participated in the demonstration. Arab Members of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) Mohammad Barakeh of Hadash and Jamal Zahalka of Balad were also present.
Bilin villagers’ thanked all the activists for standing by them during their struggle against the wall during the last four years.
Unlike previous protests, no irregularities or clashes occurred in the peaceful rally, and the protestors, including some 200 Israelis, carried signs against the construction of the wall. The Israeli allowed the demonstrators to enter the area which, until now, had been defined as a closed military zone. “The court’s ruling this week was a testament to the victory of the nonviolent protest they patiently carried out over a long period of time,” said Abdullah Abu Rahmeh, coordinator of Bilin popular committee against Israeli Wall and settlements.
Speaking at the rally, Fayyad said, “This is a big day, a day of victory for the Palestinians and a big day for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
“I thank the residents of Bilin for their constant struggle for over two years, for this important victory, the victory of life and peace,” Fayyad said, speaking for the Palestinian government.
Matan Cohen, a 17-year-old from Tel Aviv whose discolored, out-of-focus left eye was the result of a rubber bullet fired by an enraged Israeli Border policeman in previous clashes from about 25 meters away. “We were telling them, ‘Don’t shoot, nobody is threatening you.’ Then one of them raised his rifle and shot me,” said Cohen.
