A bus for Bil'in
September 16, 2007
The Fosses-Bil’in-Palestine Association was created in November 2006. In collaboration with the municipality of Fosses (France), the association provides support for Bil’in’s resistance movement, both in Palestine and in France.
In collaboration with the Bil’in village committee and with a "twinned" association that has been created in Bil’in, one of the association’s first projects is to collect funds to purchase a minibus for Bil’in, and especially for Bil’in’s students.
Education plays a major role in the resistance of the Palestinian People and so Bil’in is counting on you to answer this important appeal!
There are very few private automobiles in Bil’in and taxis are extremely expensive, especially because of the poverty of the village. Almost no one has a job; the villagers’ lands have been seized, so there are no longer any agricultural resources; and government officials have not been paid their salaries since the USA and Europe stopped sending aid to Palestine and began, instead, sending the funds to Israel. Most of the inhabitants of Bil’in live on less than 2 Euros a day.
Under these conditions it is extremely difficult for students to travel to university and attend their classes. The purchase of a minibus would greatly help them to continue their studies.
During the day, this bus would also help others in Bil’in and would create a job for the driver. Since the rate of unemployment in Bil’in is extremely high, this job would be very important.
The Fosses-Bil’in-Palestine Association, in collaboration with the municipality of Fosses, has been engaged for more than a year in actively helping the struggle of Bil’in. Because of this, Mohamed Khatib, a member of the popular committee against Israel’s apartheid wall, has been received on numerous occasions by the Mayor of Fosse. He has been able to make known to the population of Fosses the true situation in Bil’in and the nature and scope of the villagers’ resistance.
A delegation of the Fosses Municipal Council (composed of the Mayor, Alain Lacombe, and an aide) took part in the February 2006 conference in Bil’in.
A delegation from Fosses also attended a second conference in April 2007.
In order to facilitate these exchanges, the inhabitants of Bil’in have therefore decided to create a "Fosse-Bil’in Association" in Bil’in. This has now been done and the association already has 9 members.
To participate in the fundraising for « A Bus for Bil’in"
Please send your cheque made out to the order of:
« Association Fosses-Bil’in-Palestine »
Centre Agora
Avenue du Mesnil
95470 Fosses
France
Or make a donation on line through Paypal:
A brief history of the project
On September 9, 2005, on the annual Fête de L’Humanité french festival, the Israeli army undertook to drive all "Internationals" and "Israelis Against the Wall" out of Bil’in and to forbid them from demonstrating with the Palestinian villagers. A protest petition was circulated during the Fête de l’Humanité. Some 1500 signatures were gathered and sent to Bil’in in solidarity by the Mayor of Fosses, the CCIPPP and the AFPS 95.
Thus began the contact that has continued ever since. On November 21 a meeting and debate were held in Fosses. This event brought together Mohamed Khatib (of the Popular Committee of the village of Bil’in), the inhabitants and association directors of Fosses and the surrounding area, and the members of the AFPS and the CCIPPP.
During the debate, Mohamed launched an appeal for an "international conference" to be held in February 2006. He invited the representatives of Fosses to come to it. It was also decided to create the " Fosses-Bil’in Group".
The delegation from Fosses, led by the mayor, participated in the conference, held a meeting with the Bil’in village council, and planted a symbolic olive tree. The presence of the delegation made a powerful impression on the villagers of Bil’in and greatly strengthened their morale.
The presence of the Fosses-Bil’in Group at the Forum of Associations on September 9, 2006 made the group better known. The "Bus for Bil’in" project was launched and contributions began to be collected. The visitors tasted and purchased olive oil and zaatar. This launched the fund-raising for the "Bus for Bil’in" project.
To date some 600 Euros have been collected. This is a very good beginning but much more needs to be done.
The Fosses-Bilin Group, which has now become the Fosses-Bil’in-Palestine Association, is now working on a variety of projects:
- "A Bus for Bil’in";
- A football tournament for the young people of Fosses and Bil’in;
- A Dabké tournament (Dabké is a Palestinian dance);
- Theatre projects in Fosses that have links to theatre centres in Palestine.
Additional information
Links below open documents in French.
