Court Victory for Bil'in
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A victory for the Palestinian villagers of Bil'in came down from the Israeli High Court of Justice July 25th. In HCJ
143/06 the Court ruled that while the Court is considering the legality of the Matityahu East settlement, being
constructed on Bil'in land, the ban on new construction and new residents moving in must remain in effect. This
decision, by fully enforcing the ban, solidifies the remarkable status of Bil'in activists, who have now successfully
prevented planned settlement construction for 7 months - a singular feat in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank.
Furthermore, the Court ruled that demolition of settlement constructions can proceed in certain enclaves of Matityahu
East in an attempt to return the land to its pre-settlement, vegetated state. This is significant because not only have
Bil'in activists succeeded in halting the settlement construction, but, even more, they have forced the state of Israel
to demolish structures in recognition of the fact that the land on which the settlement is built was illegally annexed.
This victory is the result of years of dedicated non-violent activism on the part of the villagers of Bil'in and their
international and Israeli allies. Resistance to the Israeli confiscation of Bil'in land began when in 1991 the State of
Israel appropriated around 1100 dunums (275 acres) of Bil'in farmers' land. At the time, the confiscation was justified
by reference to an old Ottoman-era law allowing for confiscation of unused land. Much later, it was revealed that in
order to demonstrate that the coveted land was "unused," the State made use of photos of seasonal crop farm land taken
when the crops were not yet in season.
More than a decade after the confiscation, settlements began to be built, following a typical pattern of settlement
expansion, whereby, first, Palestinian land is declared State property and then eventually given out to Israelis. As a
consequence, weekly non-violent demonstrations began in Bil'in. These demonstrations, in existence weekly since January
2005, garnered international attention and support, making a protracted legal campaign challenging the settlement's
legality a possibility. Tuesday's decision, while by no means the end of the struggle for justice in Bil'in or countless
places elsewhere in the West Bank, is a testament to the power of this creative direct action.
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The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led nonviolent movement to end the Israeli occupation of
the West bank and Gaza Strip.
For specific media inquires such as interview requests, photo usage, etc. please email the ISM Media Office at
media@palsolidarity.org
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