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?