Children's demo Bilin 19.08.09 by haitham al katib

Children's demo Bil'in 19.08.2009

Today, the first nonviolent demonstration for the children of Bil'in took place to protest against the night raids and the many arrests of young boys in the village. They carried banners and chanted slogans like "We want to sleep," "No more night raids," "Let us live," "We want Peace," and so on. The children lead the demonstration toward the Apartheid Wall with villagers and Palestinian and international activists following them. At the Wall they were met by two soldiers only who were on regular duty at the Wall.

Arrived at the Wall, the children continued their chanting as the soldiers watched. Two Jeeps arrived with reinforcement. Noticing that the gate, which leads to the green line and gives access to the Wall, was open, five soldiers came through the door of the Wall to close it shut while the children chanted into their faces and activists challenged them about arresting children. They asked them whether they were ever thinking about what they were doing. Once the gate was shut, the occupation forces retreated.

The children and the protesters gathered at the Wall for a while placing their posters and flags at the gate. Seeing all the children, the occupation forces refrained from firing any tear gas or ammunition. They simply told everyone to go back. Eventually, everyone returned to the village.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Children's
• demo
• Bilin
• 19.08.09
• by
• haitham
• al
• katib

[AndresHerutJaim]

Why do you use children for your manifestations... this is a coward attitude, do you know that? Besides, this only proves that, if the children are not afraid of the Israeli soldiers, it is because the soldiers are not the "beasts" that you say that they are. I wonder if a child would dare to confront soldiers in China, Saudi Arabia, Burma or any another harder regime.

[haithmkatib]

The reason we had a children's demonstration is because our sons and daughters want to sleep at night. They cannot sleep whilst the IOF are invading our village, kidnapping their fathers and brothers and throwing sound bombs at those who are brave enough to stand up to them.

Who are the real cowards here? Is it the Israeli soldiers, who come and take 15 year old boys while they sleep in their beds, or is it the people of Bil'in, who simply want their land back.

Stop being so ridiculous.

[AndresHerutJaim]

Despite of our discrepancies, you have my respect. You do not seem to be the typical European antisemite, but... why do you say that the security fence takes the lands from Bilin? I have seen a map and the fence is very near to the Green Line (only annexing the jewish villages). By the way, I imagine that you know that the security fence was not always there in the West Bank, it was raised for a reason (think in all the suicide bombing that Israelis suffer during the Intifada). Peace to you.

[haithmkatib]

I'm glad I have your respect, because you have certainly lost mine. The "security fence", an Orwellian term if ever I've heard one, is built on Bil'in's land! It has stolen 60% of our land! Those "jewish villages" you are talking about are settlements, also built on Bil'in's land! We are suffering at the hands of a colonialist project, and you have the cheek to blame it on suicide bombings. You say "peace" to me, whilst supporting the Wall which has brought me and my family so much pain.

[AndresHerutJaim]

I understand the suffering of your family, really, and I'm not happy for this. In this conflict there are innocent Palestinians who suffer so much as the Israelis. Do not believe that I do not understand your point of view. Nevertheless, the security fence is the maximum guarantee of safety for Israel and has saved many lives from the Palestinian terrorists (not like you). My people didn't want this war, but now the safety fence must be ended. I hope that some day peace come among us.

[haithmkatib]

It's not a safety fence, both sides are Bilin's land. There are two sides to this conflict, the oppressor and the oppressed. You clearly don't understand the suffering of my family, otherwise you would not be writing these ridiculous comments.

[drbable1]

"we want to sleep,we want to sleep" children in sderot,ashkelon etc. want to sleep to

[drbable1]

your"re right, in other vids of demostrations children walk in front they are cowards,but don"t forget the media pally"s know how to use it