6 - 12 December 2001
Issue No.563
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 6 - 12 December 2001 Issue No.563 |
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Obstruction of justice
Abdel-Jawwad Saleh* takes part in peaceful resistance
In many ways, especially since the Al-Aqsa Intifada began, Israel's repressive measures have reduced Palestine to a pre-industrial state. Through systematic closures, restrictions on movement and reoccupation of the ghettoes it has created, Israel has increased poverty and illiteracy and destroyed most of the infrastructure. Palestinians in the occupied territories must walk long distances on circuitous dirt roads to reach any destination; they use donkeys and mules to carry their goods. Yet this, too, they bear. Sharon has failed to make good on the promise that got him elected: he has not broken the Palestinians' will.
The Israeli government has dealt with this failure by deploying still greater force. It is abundantly clear that whenever Israel has tightened the siege, the number of attacks on Israelis has risen; when it has relaxed its hold, the number of suicide bombings has decreased. As a political tool, however, closures foster the Israelis' illusion that it is possible to achieve peace while maintaining the occupation. The Israeli government wants to believe that one day it will find the precise degree of suffering that will cause the Palestinians to crumble once and for all.
In reoccupying the northern part of the twin cities of Al-Bireh and Ramallah, Israel closed Birzeit University. During the first Intifada, the government closed Palestinian universities down for four years by direct military order. This time, the occupation has chosen a more indirect approach, closing off all routes to Birzeit and Al-Quds Open University's Al- Bireh branch, and thus avoiding international condemnation. Early last month, however, students and members of international solidarity groups attempted to march peacefully to Birzeit University. This meant they would have to break curfew. The international supporters marched on the outside to protect the students from the soldiers' attacks. Everyone was afraid, and rightly so: it is extremely difficult to break through a line of tanks and violate curfew peacefully. The students selected several of their number, who would be responsible for discipline and organisation.
I was mayor of this town once, long ago -- before an exile that lasted 20 years. As we slowly began walking, I forgot my fear. I could see two tanks on the right side of Al-Irsal Street, 50m in front of a hotel that has had to close down. The Israeli army's objective has been to paralyse the Palestinian economy.
The tanks started up and shifted position, but did not move toward us. Their guns swiveled in our direction. Would they shoot? We were frightened. The group nearly stopped; then we continued walking, very slowly. Another 700m down the road, as we were descending the steep path that leads to the valley between Al-Bireh and Surda, we heard a roaring. One of the tanks was speeding toward us. It came to an abrupt halt. Had we won this battle of nerves? We crossed the wadi and started climbed the hill towards Surda. By an armoured jeep, three soldiers and a driver were waiting, in full war regalia: helmets, ammunition, flak jackets. When we were 100m away, one of soldiers ordered us to stop and leave immediately. One of the students spoke into a megaphone: "We are students. We are going to university. This is our street and we have the right to use it. You are not supposed to be here. Your presence is illegal."
The soldier took a few steps toward the group. He was holding what appeared to be a grenade. He removed the pin. The student continued: "Don't use violence against us. We are going to university. You are preventing students from attending classes." He threw the bomb, but she did not relent. Another soldier threw a second stun bomb, but we kept advancing. Then the soldiers lobbed tear gas canisters into the middle of the group, and the students started running. As soon as the gas had dispersed, we advanced once more. At times, the wind was in our favour.
The soldiers shot into the air, first rubber-tipped steel bullets, then live ammunition. One of the international supporters snapped pictures, demanding: "Why are you shooting? These are students." Finally, the soldiers turned away.
The students broke curfew and the siege a second time a few days later. One of the tanks we had seen was now blocking off Al-Irsal Street. When the students tried to press on, the soldiers started shooting live ammunition. The students, however, are determined to continue defying the closure. Struggling peacefully, they believe, will put Israel's policy of terrorism to the test.
*The writer is member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and former member of the PLO's Executive Council.
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