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]
Upcoming Events Conference and 4th Annual Right of Return Strategy Workshop, London Debates, a conference, workshop and book launch will be part of a series of events in London from 5-10 November on Palestinian refugees' right of return. Participants will include Israelis, Palestinians, representatives of the world-wide Palestine Right of Return Coalition and UK Members of Parliament. The public is invited to attend the following events: BOOK LAUNCH: CONFERENCE: "The 'New History' of 1948 and the Palestinian Nakba" "One State of all its Citizens, including the Refugees: The
Future of Palestine/Israel?" The conference is organized by Al-Awda Palestine Right to Return
Coalition, London in partnership with the International Coalition
for the Right Return, Al-Awda U.K. It will be chaired by Neil
Gerrard, MP and Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees
and will conclude with a workshop on: "International Campaigning on
the Right of Return" (Victoria Britain, chair; Jaber Suleiman,
researcher and writer, Lebanon; Sharif The above public events are being held within the framework of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Palestine Right of Return Coalition convening in closed session in London. This Meeting will bring together some 35 delegates of initiatives working world-wide to strengthen Palestinian refugees' right of return in the context of a just and durable solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This fourth annual meeting of the coalition aims to finalize the organizational framework for broad and democratic coordination of Palestine right-of-return activities and Palestinian exile communities and to set priorities for coordinated action in 2004. For additional information, contact: [email protected];
www.al-awda.org.uk; |