Robert Martin is an Australian activist who lives in Melbourne. Robert was drawn to Palestine at the commencement of Israel's Gaza attack. Robert began to investigate what actually was happening in Palestine and couldn't believe what he was reading. He knew he couldn't rely on mainstream media for the truth so he decided to see for himself. Robert had read and watched plenty of interviews and documentaries on Issues faced by both sides, including Miko Peled, Illan Pappe, Doc Jazz (Tariq Shadid) and Andrew Tucker (Christians for Israel) and the belief of the Zionist movement. Robert knew he was in for an eye opening trip immediately after the Israeli army entered the bus he was in and asked to see his passport. After disembarking the bus he was invited to the front of the line to have his passport checked again, this shocked Robert a bit as he saw so many Palestinians in the line and he refused to push in the line. Robert made a trip to Bil'in as he had made contact with Hamde Abu Rhama and was keen to see the village in which Hamde lived.. Robert was being given a quick tour of the village (it's small as so much of its land has been taken) when he saw the truth of live under occupation. Hamde and Robert had been chasing some animals as Hamde wanted to take pictures of them and they were interrupted by soldiers. An army van came rushing down the road, stopped quickly and a few soldiers stood up and shouted they must move. This startled Robert as it was so unexpected, Robert asked the soldiers what was happening.. He then was faced with an M16 being pointed straight at him as the other soldiers told him to leave. Robert had to know more and asked some questions as to why he wasn't allowed to be there as he was clearly away from the Apartheid Wall and clearly away from the barb wire also. The soldiers threw something at in Robert ps direction and it exploded with an incredibly loud noise that Robert had never experienced in his life. To the soldiers amazement and surprise Robert did not move and again questioned the soldiers.. The only response Robert received was they were protecting Israel and they had rules that we must follow. The next day Robert was having coffee and with a few people from the village when a distressed call came in explaining the soldiers were at the only play ground taking equipment. Robert saw everyone in a panic and insisted he tag along to see what was happening. They got to the hill and were stopped by heavily armed soldiers and a truck that had a small crane on it. Robert had not been in the village of Bil'in for even 24 hours and he was again faced by the strength of the Israeli army insisting he leave with a M16 at his head. For whatever reason Robert refused and walked towards the soldiers filming with his iPhone and he asked the soldiers what they were doing. Again the soldiers told him to,leave or he would be shot. He continued towards the soldiers and again asked what they were doing. Thee were some younger People from the village behind him watching and to his amazement they all started running a away. He saw the truck with the equipment already loaded and again demanded the soldiers give him an answer. The soldiers were taken back by Robert and his inability to be intimidated by these soldiers clearly provoking a fight. The soldiers began to retreat even though they again said I'd he continued they would shoot him. As they left they threw another object at him that exploded and began to smoke.. Everything Robert had read and heard about could not have prepared him for what he had just witnessed as the disregard towards the Palestinians was so blatant, how could this be?

• published: 20 Dec 2014
• views: 18315