....Demonstration

The students were carrying signs reading, "There can be no peace if you deny us our right to education." Students on the Birzeit side of the checkpoint edged forwards, as did those who had just arrived, until they closed the five meter wide gap, to cheers. The soldiers did not know what to do. On one hand, the whole idea of seperating two Palestinian towns for no perceivable security benefit was silly. On the other hand, they had their orders. Putting people in this position is unfair to both the population who resent it and the soldier who must enforce it.

Confrontation

It was to be expected that this mix would lead to confrontation. After a short scuffle was started with the soldiers, the student who began it was violently arrested. Negotiations continued for some time, until finally (below) he was released, limping. To be fair, he did ask for it, and the soldiers did release him.

For a continuation of First Israeli Closure of Ramallah (part III), click here.

Click Here for DIARY INDEX

---

Photos: © Nigel Parry. All available.