Land Once Theirs

Stephan Heddon

10A

What would you do if the land that belonged to you and your ancestors was being taken away from you? This is what is happening in Bil'in. Bil’in is part of the West bank and is surrounded by Israelis but is owned by the Palestinians. Over the past 50 years there has been conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. In 1948 after WWII the UN declared a part of Palestine the free state of Israel. This would provide the Jews with a state of their own. No Arab states were at the meeting that decided this so and many didn’t agree with the decision and didn’t recognize Israel. This soon started conflict on who really owned the land and wars were fought over it. Today there is still conflict especially in Bil’in.

Map of the Wall through Bil'in
(Source: Cosmos.ucc.ie)

Palestinian farmers in Bil’in grow olive trees. Bil’in is part of the West Bank of the Palestinian Territories and it borders Israel.  The Israeli side of the border’s population has doubled so Israel has started building settlements on that land that belongs to the Palestinians. Israel doesn't have any set official state boundaries (Carter Hallward). In 2004 they Israel tried to construct a wall in Bil’in. The International Court Justice declared it as a violation of international law. A few weeks later the Israeli High Court of Justice declared that they had the right to build the wall for security measures (Karlsson). Then the wall was built and it separated the Palestinian farmers from their crops on the land that they own. The people of Bil’in are practically being kicked out of the land they own and it is just making it a lot harder to get to and farm the crops in a land that the International Court of Justice declared it as theirs. Most of the people of Bil’in live off the land so the olive trees represent their way of life. Being separated from land is never fair or just. In the book “The Hour of Sunlight” by Sami Al Jundi and Jan Marlowe Sami’s mother is forced to leave her home. She says, “We could stay no longer. There were no belongings to gather this time. We didn’t even have the food and water to carry anymore. We walked south east toward Hebron, hungry,thirsty, and exhausted.” (Burnat, Emad,10). This shows that when peoples land is taken from them everything is left behind. Sami the main character is also mad at the Israelis for taken his land. He is also a Palestinian and was mad at Israel for bombing, killing and forcing him and his friends, family and whole entire community to move from the land.

Protesters Throwing Stones at Israeli Defense Forces
(Source: Israel Defense Forces)

Bil’in should have truly peaceful protests.The world would react a lot more to footage of protesters who are sitting calmly in front of a bulldozer on their land trying to stop people from building on their land then to protesters who claim they are peaceful but are still throwing rocks or destroying the fences or buildings being built. People from outside countries need to take action. We shouldn’t watch while other peoples land is being taken away. Countries who are allies with Israel need to be stronger when expressing their concerns of Israel's growing borders into other peoples land. Students can help by writing letters to their congressman to the president to get rid of the fence and stop building on the land. Because the US has such a strong influence over Israel it could really change things. Students can also write to the UN or even officials in Israel. Students can also inform other people and find ways to get the word out to expose what is happening because it is what Israel is scared of. The importance of a truly peaceful protest must also be made clear to the Palestinians so that more conflict is not created. Palestinians can spread the ideas of peaceful protests and dates to have them through social media. The conflict going on in Palestine and Israel is a very emotional topic that will take years to solve but if peaceful protest happens then peace will be closer to reach.