A successful nonviolent experience

Belean, West Bank - As the evening of June 9, 2005 approached, the people of Belaen, as well as foreign and Israeli supporters, prepared for a confrontation planned for after Friday prayers: handcuffs for demonstrators, to undermine allegations by soldiers that they face violence in this peaceful village, and balloons filled with animal dung to be hurled at soldiers attacking the peaceful demonstration.

As they arrived at the area being excavated in preparation for the separation wall, they were met by a barrage of tear gas canisters. Six were injured, including Ziad Halaby, an Al Arabiya Satellite television station reporter, who suffered a leg injury.

As the soldiers released clouds of pungent smoke and metal bullets, the demonstrators removed their cuffs, and hurled animal dung at them.

According to Abdallah Abu Rahmeh, Coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Belaen: “We heard in public media two statements by Israeli army leaders accusing Belaen villagers of violence. Our response was to handcuff ourselves and to demonstrate peacefully.”

The people of this small village of 1,500 west of Ramallah exhibit outstanding creativity in devising non-violent methods of protest. When their lands were confiscated four months ago, they responded with peaceful demonstrations, each different from the others, in order to attract more supporters and to surprise the soldiers with something unfamiliar. The first demonstration was restricted to women, and aimed to convey that they came to protest peacefully, according to Abu Rahmeh. The second demonstration was restricted to children.

When occupation forces started bulldozing land and uprooting olive trees, the villagers expressed their attachment to their trees, some of which were more than a hundred years old, by tying themselves to trees to be uprooted. The villagers succeeded in delaying the soldiers’ work for over five hours while soldiers cut the chains connecting people to their olive trees.

Next, participants entered drums that close from the inside, showing the head only, and tied themselves to the trees. Another time, villagers surprised the soldiers with a march of white coffins, each carrying the name of a respected value, such as justice, humanity, rights, manners…etc. Once demonstrators taped their mouths shut while flying the flags of countries that are active in the international arena, symbolizing international silence towards the suffering of the Palestinian people.

On another occasion, the villagers demonstrated by distributing 1,500 Palestinian flags in a gesture directed internally, where Palestinian factions compete by hoisting their own flags, ignoring the Palestinian national flag. They also used the symbol of the iron wall that runs over the corpses of native Palestinians, wearing a symbol of the wall around their necks.

Organizers of such activities state that they have achieved better results than others using violent methods. Abdallah Abu Rahmeh stated: “These demonstrations have attracted large numbers of Israeli and foreign supporters and directed media coverage at what we do and what we suffer from. Had our demonstrations concentrated on stone-throwing, no supporters or media would have joined us. But through innovative new forms of peaceful resistance, everyone wants to learn these forms and make them succeed.”

“Some may say that the end result is that Israel is building the wall. This is true. But this will not happen without a price, and a large one, too. The world and the Israeli people are starting to realize the oppression of this wall. At the same time, we have protected the lives of our people from the soldiers and enhanced group resistance,” adds Abu Rahmeh.

Hundreds of Israeli supporters who join the struggle of Belaen villagers have turned into an effective force. On nights when soldiers raid the village they are faced with Israeli citizens who document every violation committed and present it to the media and the relevant authorities. On one occasion, the soldiers abducted two young men and took them to court, but documents and pictures presented by Israeli supporters resulted in their acquittal. Shai Carmeli, a 37-year-old Israeli film-maker who came to show solidarity with the villagers of Belean said: “A few days ago, the army raided the village and started smashing houses. Immediately, I dialed a special military phone number dedicated for reporting army violations, and gave the authorities details of what the soldiers were committing. Shortly afterwards, the soldiers left the village.” He added: “I was asked if the residents were refusing to open the doors, forcing the soldiers to break them down, and I answered that the soldiers were breaking down doors without knocking or waiting for the villagers to open.”

News of the peaceful methods utilized by the villagers of Belean has echoed throughout Israeli society. One newspaper referred to the villagers of Belean as “The New Ghandists.” This had a noticeable impact on soldiers who reduced levels of violence in the face of non-violent demonstrations where increasing numbers of their compatriots are participating, and replaced bullets with less damaging tools, such as gas, electric batons and powerful loud-speakers, which people avoid.

The Belean villagers’ methods have started to expand into other areas threatened with land expropriation, the Wall and settlement. Abdallah added: “We have recently received invitations from the villagers of Murda and from the tribes of Ramdaniyyeen to help them organize popular demonstrations that attract the media and foreign and Israeli supporters and reduce violence.” This may be a new stage in the Palestinian people’s struggle, adds Abu Rahmeh.

Originally published as "The New Ghandists" - Belaen: Nonviolent Successful Experience" Common Ground News Service, June 17, 2005.