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Palestine Monitor 11 February 2010 ’One Small Step’: Work began today on re-routing the separation wall in Bilin. More than two years after a supreme court ruling that the barrier be moved, new tracks were being laid down this morning. The new route will return around 1,000 dunums (250 acres) of farmland to the village. The move is long overdue, as the Popular Struggle’s case was ratified by an Israeli court in September 2007. The army have until this point failed to comply with the order, instead policing protestors with increased severity. 36 activists have been arrested in Bilin over the past seven months. The separation wall cuts off the largely agricultural community from the farmland which supports it. Its existence has impacted harshly on work and living conditions for the dispossessed. Mohamed Khatib, coordinator of the popular struggle committee and head of Bilin village council, believes today’s success is just a small step toward the overall goal of ending occupation. “We have an ongoing court case against the wall in an Israeli court, as well as proceedings against Canadian companies assisting with its construction.” Khatib has been a victim of ongoing harassment and intimidation from Israeli security, including an arrest for incitement last month. He believes the timing of today’s activity is significant, following a brutal campaign against activists. “Israel realise our movement is growing and reaching new locations. They want to stop it here but we will continue. We are one state in a long struggle to end occupation. We will not be satisfied by one success, this will encourage the movement and give its supporters belief”.
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