Bil’in, Second anniversary demonstration. 23rd February 2007

This isn’t by any means a documentary, nor is it an account of the valiant efforts of those who protest the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and the bad tempered wall that is being built.
Rather it is a narrative of the day, and an attempt to represent what I felt as a both a protester and witness to the demonstration.
Bil’in is a phenomenon of a sort, in that it is the only anti-wall demo that has built up any kind of momentum. It has built a reputation as a success story of the non-violent resistance movement in Palestine, despite controversy regarding the motives of some of the activists that attend the weekly protest (so-called “violence tourists”), the regular stone-throwing of local kids and even the extent to which local villagers would like to see these protests continue.
This was the second time I’d attended the protest, and both times I have been overwhelmed, not only by the ridiculously heavy-handed methods of the Israeli military (which is self-evident in the video), but also by the intangible atmosphere amongst the protesters.
Bil’in is unique in that it is no longer simply an anti-wall demonstration; it has become something of a public relations animal. A symbol of non-violent resistance to show to the world, regardless of the ground-level intentions and goals of the local people who essentially want to get rid of the illegal wall (or, if you will, security fence, blah blah blah), so that they can access their farmland.
I have a friend who is convinced (and I am persuaded) that Israel only permits “Bil’in” to continue, firstly as an excellent training arena for their vast amounts of inexperienced young soldier-boys, and secondly to give sheen to the illusion of permissive Israeli democracy. Although it is slightly self defeating to be smug about allowing non-violent protest when you violently dismantle it.
It is a weird event, made all the more weird by the hundreds of people that attended the second anniversary. I would guess that there was at least three cameras to every person.

A thank you to James by the way…