Iyad Burnat

Iyad Burnat (born September 1973) leads Bil'in's non-violent struggle in the occupied West Bank. He is the head of the Bil'in Popular Committee, which has lead weekly demonstrations since 2005 against the Israeli West Bank barrier — a separation wall built on Palestinian land. He has been arrested and tortured several times by Israeli police.

He has raised awareness for the death of his childhood friend and fellow Palestinian activist Bassem Abu Rahme. His brother Emad Burnat and an Israeli Guy Davidi produced the documentary 5 Broken Cameras, a 85th Academy Awards nominee. He publicly rebuked the selection of Barack Obama for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 and called for more quality in future selections by the Nobel Committee.

Early life and education
Burnat's father was an olive farmer. In February 1992, Burnat was detained by the Israeli army in a night raid. His clothes were seized and he was forced to stand outside without his clothes. He was forced to sign a confession written in Hebrew. After 21 days, Burnat was brought to military court where he was charged and sentenced for allegedly throwing stones at soldiers. He was jailed for two years.

Police harassment
Burnat was arrested by Israel in 2005 for blocking bulldozers beginning work on Separation Wall. He was beaten in prison and required hospitalization.

He and a group of American peace activists were denied entry into Ni'lin in November 2008. He was later arrested in a morning raid on 21 November 2008. He was fined and released in December 2008. In March 2010, Burnat was summoned to a questioning by Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet an hour after he sent an email titled, "The Third Intifada is knocking on the door”.

Burnat has been arrested and tortured in jail ten times.

Weekly demonstrations
Burnat leads weekly demonstrations after Friday prayers in Bil'in. The marches protest the Separation Wall. Bil'in activists photograph and videotape every protest. Burnat famously said, "The camera is our gun." Against the protestors, Israel has routinely used high velocity tear gas canisters, stun grenades, rubber-coated metal bullets, sonic bombs, skunk water, and even live ammunition. During the demonstrations, 40 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,300 have been injured.

In the 17 April 2009 demonstration, Bassem Abu Rahme was shot close-range in the chest with a tear gas canister and died shortly afterward. In the 15 May 2009 march, Iyad Burnat was severely injured by tear gas canisters along with eight others.

The village won a legal dispute in August 2008 when the Israeli High Court of Justice ruled that the new route of the barrier in Bil'in was in violation of the Court ruling released on September 2007, which ruled that the Wall path must be altered. The barrier was moved a short distance away from its initial location in Bil'in, on orders from the Israeli High Court. But 60% of Bil'in is still being annexed for the Israeli settlement Modi'in Illit and protests continue.

In 15 July 2011 march, Burnat was injured by rubber-coated steel bullets after international and Israeli supporters joined the villagers in the protest. He led the 31 August 2012 weekly march, which included British Parliamentarians Martin Linton and John Lazman, that was done in solidarity with the family of Rachel Corrie.

United States tour
Burnat began a speaking tour from November 2012 to February 2013 in the United States. He was initially denied permission from Jordan to board a flight to the United States. The National Lawyers Guild wrote a letter to the Jordan kingdom urging it to allow Burnat to travel from Amman to University of Michigan for the National Conference for Students for Justice in Palestine. After a week of continued protests, he was allowed to board a flight to Detroit. During his scheduled stopover in Frankfurt, Germany, he was further detained by U.S. agents and subjected to several hours of interrogation.

Burnat spoke around the country regarding the hardships of Palestinian farmers under Israeli occupation. He has expressed support for a boycott and divestment campaigns against Israel's occupation. At Binghamton University, student organization leaders of Hillel attempted to force the resignation of a member for organizing a campus visit by Burnat.

Personal life
He is married and has four children.

Works
Why Does Obama Get a Prize and Bush Got Shoes? Uprising Radio interview