Campaign for the Defense of Refugee Rights

 Popular Organizing Re-launched in the West Bank:

Towards Right-of-Return Coordination and Refugee Community Participation

The all-out war declared by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian civil society, the loss of freedom of movement, the occupation of Iraq and the take-over of Baghdad – a symbol of Arab heritage and culture – by the US-UK coalition forces have had a devastating affect on the Palestinian public mood and spirit.

The drop of popular morale was heavily felt in the month of April during the annual commemoration of the 1948 Deir Yassin massacre. For the past 55 years, this has been the time of the year when preparations are launched for the annual commemoration of the Palestinian Nakba. Not so in 2003. Talking with activists and refugee community organizations about plans for Nakba memorials was like speaking from a different planet.

"Baghdad has fallen, the occupation forces are vandalizing our heritage there, and you want us to do something? No thanks, we are not in the mood and the spirit for activities."

As on numerous occasions in the history of the Palestinian struggle, a strong and trusted group of activists had to come together and work out a plan in order to challenge this dark mood of disappointment and frustration. It was one of those times when well-organized initiatives are most needed. Irrespective of their limited resources, local refugee community organizations in the West Bank were able to live-up to their responsibility by setting up an immediate and urgently needed program for enhancing popular morale.

Thus the 55th anniversary of the Nakba in May featured a media campaign on TV and radio stations and in the Palestinian press, community workshops and meetings, and a series of popular activities targeting old and young Palestinian generations (See, al-Majdal, Issue 18, June 2003).

One month of intensive work among the Palestinian refugee community in May - June resulted in a major recommendation: to re-launch the popular right of return conferences – an initiative initially started in 1995-1996 and subsequently put on hold – in order to strengthen the voice of Palestinian refugees against the growing US-Israeli pressure for a surrender of the right of return as a pre-condition for political negotiations between Israel and the PLO. The sense of danger and awareness of the pressure exerted upon the Palestinian leadership dispersed the dark mood and united three generations of community activists in action and preparations for popular conferences.

By September 2003, preparatory committees were established in three West Bank regions – Bethlehem, Ramallah and Tulkarem. Similar initiatives are in progress in Nablus and Hebron. The regional popular conferences will elect regional representatives with the aim of establishing a higher popular right-of-return coordinating committee in the West Bank. Community activists in the Gaza Strip have adopted the same model, but have yet to take the initial steps already accomplished in the West Bank.

The strength of the new movement of refugee community activists lies in its ability to involve three generations of Palestinian refugees. The old generation of men and women usually considered 'retired' from social and political activism is accorded special respect. They are listened to by large sectors of the society, refugees and non-refugees – mainly because they are perceived as persons who are not moved by narrow personal interest or corruption.

Elderly and respected individuals from the camps have organized themselves as delegations and visit Palestinian towns and villages, in order to raise and explain their concerns and the need of public support for their right of return. They have been received warmly wherever they go, and – for the first time in many years – the 21st commemoration of the Sabra and Shatila massacre organized in Deheishe camp/Bethlehem was joined by a considerable number of non-refugee participants, representatives of towns and villages in the region.

Major thought has been invested in developing ways of cooperation between the old and younger generations of activists. The latter move faster and easier, they easily develop ideas and plans, but the amount of their free time is limited due to work and family obligations. The old have more free time, and visits to camps and villages can provide a framework for meaningful social activity during the work-hours of the younger ones. In this way, the three generations have found a way to work together, both jointly and separately.

Finally, activities and efforts towards the preparation of the popular conferences are by themselves understood as an effective tool for raising awareness for refugee rights among the broader Palestinian society, and as a bell of alarm for the Palestinian leadership, who is called to maintain a clear and strong position on the basic rights of the people, i.e. self-determination and the right of the refugees to return to their homes, irrespective of US pressure to compromise these rights.

Mohammad Jaradat is the coordinator of BADIL’s Refugee Rights Campaign.
email: [email protected]