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Illegal settlement expansion exposed on Bil’in village land
11/02/2007
Source : ISM
Villagers from Bil’in today accessed their land on the other side of the annexation barrier in order to plant trees. The Israeli Supreme Court had previously ruled that this land, which has been built on for the expansion of the illegal Matityahu East settlement, rightfully belongs to the vilage of Bil’in and that all settlement activity must stop.
Despite this, construction companies have continued to expand the infrastructure of the illegal settlement. Whilst digging today Bil’in villagers uncovered water pipes and phone lines under this land in violation of the Supreme Court ruling, which ruled that this land shouldn’t be used as a utility right of way for the settlement.
wo weeks ago a Planning Board in Beit El composed of IDF and settler representatives, approved a new scheme for the settlement, retrospectively legitimising the illegal construction in Matityahu East. The villagers of Bil’in are appealing this decision in the Supreme Court.
At today’s tree planting Bilin villagers were joined by around 30 international and Israeli supporters. Despite not being allowed through the gate from the village, these supporters weren’t deterred and managed to find a way round.
The water pipes and phone lines were discovered at the depth of about 1 metre. This land had contained settlement buildings which were demolished after a Supreme Court ruling six months ago.
On their way back to the village the group passed by the Bil’in outpost where villagers have been living in huts on the other side of the Wall for over a year.
When they reached the Wall the internationals were again told they couldn’t pass through with the villagers. One villager was pushed against a fence whilst another was detained for two hours in a tent, blindfolded and handcuffed, before being released.
