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Does the radicalisation by the occupant radicalise the Resistance?
May 15, 2006
In an article dating from last April 29, the Israeli anticolonialist “Anarchists against the wall” movement raised the question if the non-violent struggle against the wall in Bil’in was finished (read the article).
Why such a question? During the weekly demonstration in Bil’in on April 28, the anarchistic movement estimated that the number of stone throwers increased in spite of the disapproval by the Popular Committee of Resistance. Rather than finger-pointing, however, to the young people in Bil’in or the policies of the Palestinian Authority, it would be perhaps time to see what’s happening in Israeli politics.
Since the victory of Kadima party in the last Israeli legislative elections, Palestinians found themselves, again, without any interlocutor. Olmert continues Ariel Sharon policies, i.e. no negotiation with the Palestinian authority, unilateral decision-making, charges of terrorism against the Palestinian leaders. Afterwards the international community (USA, Canada, European Union) halted any help to the Palestinian authority, setting the Palestinian people into an economic crisis, to shortly develop into humanitarian.
Surfing on a wave of popularity inherited from Sharon, Olmert’s government decides to officialise the future israeli-Palestinian borders by modifying the route and by finishing the construction of the partition wall. With a view to passing for a man of peace, Olmert invites to the dismantling of some colonies. The true reason lies in the Israeli government’s inability to secure them. On the other hand, the wall will confiscate more Palestinian land around the large colonial blocks, thus preparing the future expansions. The blocks will become, on the occasion, Israeli town s on full account.
Bil’in is upset by this new decision of the Israeli government. While he has just voted the future route, Olmert comes out to deliver the last stab to the villagers.
So any surprise that during “one” demonstration, yes “one”, young people showed more violent than usual? How can the “anarchists against the wall” movement, which is present since the first days of resistance in Bil’in, which fights daily against the occupation and the wall, be allowed to lecture the villagers? Since the beginning of the fight, inhabitants of the village as well as activists, are entitled to a say, any idea or disagreement is discussed. Then why inflate this event? Why generalize a fact which occurred during one demonstration? This movement was always important, essential to the struggle against the occupation, for the survival of the Palestinian people, this movement deserves respect. But in no case it must become a lecturer to others.
We have to go on supporting the inhabitants of Bil’in, go on being on their sides. The villagers, despite the confirmation of the route, go on fighting, so let us not leave them.
Translated from French by Gianluca Bifolchi, member of Tlaxcala, the network of translators for linguistic diversity. This translation is Copyleft : it can be freely reproduced provided its author, translator, revisor and site of origin are cited.
