Ministers, ex-Ministers, representatives of NGO’s visit Bil’in village

Thursday August 23, 2007 00:00 by Amin Abu Wardeh - IMEMC

Several Ex-Ministers of the Palestinian government accompanied by several representatives of non-governmental organizations and current ministers, visited on Wednesday Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, which is affected by the Israeli Annexation Wall.

Wall in Bil'in

The officials who visited the village are Dr. Mazin Sonnoqrot, the previous minister of economy, Dr. Sabri Saidam, the previous minister of communication, Jawad Naji, the current minister of National Economy, Khalil Sheeha, head of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief association, Dr. Abdul-Rahman Tamimi, head of the Hydrogen Group, Mohammad Elias Nazzal, coordinator of the National Committee Against the Wall and Moqbil Al Barghouthi.

Head of the Bil’in village council, Ahmad Yassin, welcomed the delegates in the village and then they were handed by Mohammad Abu Rahma, a member of the Popular Committee Against the Wall, a list of the needs of the village.

The visiting delegates highlighted the role of nonviolent resistance against the Wall, and the reputation of Bil’in village which leads the nonviolent resistance against the Wall and settlements in spite of the ongoing Israeli military attacks against the peaceful protests and the ongoing excessive use of force against the protesters.

Mazin Sonnoqrot stated that Bil’in enjoys international support by the continued presence of international peace activists.

Minister of Economy, Khalil Sheeha, said that it is very important to support Bil’in in its nonviolent struggle against the Wall, and added that it is very important to keep taking care of the lands which became totally isolated by the Wall.

Also, Dr. Abdul-Rahman Tamimi, said that his group aided the village in projects to dig water-wells and replant agricultural lands, and said that his groups intends to develop the water lines in the village.

Moreover, Dr. Jawad Naji said that Bil’in is a role model of the resistance against the Wall and settlement and said that it is very important to support the village in its legitimate struggle.

Naji also presented some projects that could develop schools and aid the needy students and families in the village.

The previous Minister of Economy, Dr. Sabri Saidam, called on Bil’in residents to form a follow-up committee in order to supervise the implementation of the proposed projects, and called on his colleges to invite the prime minister and government officials to visit the village. 

The visiting delegates also visited the orchards which are affected and isolated by the Annexation Wall, and saw the gathered rubber-coated bullets and gas bombs which were fired by the army against the peace protesters during the weekly non-violent protests in the village.  

Moreover, delegates of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Bil’in visited Al Mazra’a Al Qibla nearby village and participated in a nonviolent protest against the Wall.

Ramallah governor, Sa’id Abu Ali, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, the ex-minister of information, and several international supporters participated in the protest which was held on Palestinian farm lands which Israel wants to annex to an illegal settlement in the area.  

ramallah | the wall | news report saed at imemc dot org