On September 4th, the Israeli high court released a decision ordering the military to move the route of the wall which it built on the lands of the village of Bilin. The village has waged a nearly three year long struggle against the wall and was supported from the start until now by AATW. Throughout the entire period, the chances of gaining any change in the route of the wall were considered nil by everyone. The continued demonstrations at a cost of injuries and jail were considered a mistake even by many supporters. The night before the decision was announced, an emergency AATW meeting was called to respond to the negative decisions that all had no doubt will be given.

The next morning when the stunning decision was announced the entire village went out of the houses and joined an impromptu celebration at site of the countless demonstration. Throughout the day, members of AATW rushed to the West bank to congratulate their Palestinian comrades and dance in the streets of the village with them.

The story was picked up in much world press and Haaretz ran stories titled “anarchist victory ” but the most important tribute came from Basel Mansur of the popular committee in the village.

Of course the struggle is not over, no one who has struggled against it for a long time has any illusions about the Israeli occupation. It will yield nothing without a fight and perhaps the greatest importance of this victory is that it will give the joint Palestinian Israeli movement more strength to continue this fight.

Hundreds of spent teargas grenades and projectiles displayed in the villagebefore the celebration march