Take action against suppression of Palestinian non-violent resistance in Bil’in

At around 3am on Monday morning, a large military force wearing combat
paint and masks invaded the West Bank village of Bil’in. Israeli
soldiers raided several homes, arresting 2 Palestinian children, 5
Palestinian adults including Mohammad Khatib of the Bil’in Popular
Committee Against the Wall and Settlements. The home of another member
of the Popular Committee was raided, but soldiers could not arrest him
because he was not present at home.

Also arrested were the three brothers Khaled Shawkat Abd-Alrazic al-
Khateeb (age 23), Mustafa Shawkat Abd-Alrazic al-Khateeb (age18), and
Mohammed Show gut Abd-Alrazic al-Khateeb (age 16); Abdullah Ahmad
Yassen (age 18); Abdullah Mohammed Ali Yassen (age 16); Issa Mahmoud
Issa Abu Rahma (age 40); This brings to 19 the number of Biliner’s
currently in custody.

Monday’s raid is another in a series of many that Israeli forces have
carried out in Bil’in since June 29 June 2009, Israeli forces have
arrested 25 people (most are under 18). Israeli forces have been using
interrogation techniques to pressure the arrested youth to give
statements against Bil’in community leaders.

Abdullah Abu Rahme, coordinator of the popular committee stated,
“Mohmmad Khatib and Adib Abu Rahme along with other leaders of the
Palestinian popular struggle are being targeted because the mobilize
Palestinians to resist non- violently. The fact is that the Apartheid
Wall and the settlements built on Palestinian land are illegal under
international law, in the case of our village even the biased Israeli
court declared the route illegal. Yet Israel is prosecuting us as
criminals because we struggle nonviolently for our freedom.”

What you can do?

Attempts to criminalize the leadership of non-violent protests where
curbed in the past with the help of an outpouring of support from
people committed to justice from all over the world.

1. Many of you have met Mohammad Khatib and perhaps one of the others
mentioned above. We need you now to personally testify about your
knowledge of them and their commitment to non-violence. Write a letter
to the Israeli military judge and please send to bilinlegal@gmail.com.

2. Please Protest by contacting your political representatives, as
well as you consuls and ambassadors to Israel to demand the release of
Mohammad Khatib, Adib Abu Rahme and all Bil’in prisoners.

3. The Popular committee of Bil’in is in desperate need for legal
funds in order to pay legal fees and Bail. Please donate to the Bil’in
legal fund by paypal click http://tinyurl.com/lcr6rg . If you would
like to make a tax deductible donation in the US or Canada contact:
bilinlegal@gmail.com.

The Bil’in Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements

Background:

The Palestinian village of Bil’in has become an international symbol
of the Palestinian popular struggle. For almost 5 years, its residents
have been continuously struggling against the de facto annexation of
more then 50% of their farmlands the construction of the apartheid
wall on it. In a celebrated decision, the Israeli Supreme court ruled
on the 4 September 2007 that the current route of the wall in Bil’in
was illegal and needs to be dismantled; the ruling however has not
been implemented. The struggle of the village to liberate its lands
and stop the illegal settlements has been internationally recognized
and has earned the popular committee in Bil’in the Carl von Ossietzky
Meda. http://tinyurl.com/nfmsvm

On 21 July 2009, a military judge decided to hold Adeeb Abu Rahma, a
leading non-violent activist that was arrested from a demonstration
against the barrier that took place in Bil’in village on 10 of July
(see video at: http://palsolidarity.org/2009/07/7652), until the end
of proceedings against him. This could mean months or a year in
military prison for Adeeb, who is being charged with incitement to
violence and rioting. He is the sole provider for his family of 9
children, wife and mother.

One demonstrator, Basem Abu Rahma, was killed at a demonstration as he
was attempting to speak with the soldiers. (Video can be seen on
http://palsolidarity.org/2009/04/6185)

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