The Blocs in Action

The first day of elections at Birzeit University is a day of campaigns. Each bloc is given one hour in which to hold a rally that demonstrates the main points of their campaign. This year the rallies began at 11am with the Jerusalem Bloc, followed by the Democratic Pole, the An Nahdah Bloc and the Change Bloc. The rallies are often elaborate events - filled with music, dance and a strong political message. This year was no exception.

Jerusalem Bloc supporters march through the crowd

The Jerusalem Bloc (or 'Shabiba') received the second highest number of votes last year with 37.24% of voters supporting them. Birzeit Student elections have traditionally been a contest between the pro-Fatah Jerusalem Bloc and the Islamic Bloc.

Jerusalem Bloc members dressed as Palestinian farmers

The years 1995 and 1997 saw the Jerusalem Bloc win a majority while in 1996 and 1998 the Islamic Bloc came out ahead.

In this year's rally, the Jerusalem Bloc concentrated on the theme of Jerusalem and unity in Palestinian society. Carrying a large Palestinian flag as they have done in previous years, the bloc marched to the center of the rally carrying red, green and black flags.

Jerusalem Bloc member in traditional Palestinian dress

The Jerusalem Bloc is traditionally distinguished by the black and white Palestinian headscarf or keffiyeh. In the week during the lead up to the election a Jerusalem Bloc member was detained at an Israeli checkpoint with 600 Keffiyehs which were confiscated by the Israelis.

The bloc spoke about how they stand for all segments of Palestinian society. Dressed in traditional dress as farmers, doctors, fighters and students they marched through the crowd as a song played over the loud speaker asking "Where are you - Arab peoples?".

• Interview with Jerusalem Bloc representative

The Democratic Pole in Action

Palestinian refugees leave their homeland

The left is represented on campus by the Progressive Democratic Pole or 'Qutob', which was established in 1997 as a coalition of various left groups. Although initially a coalition, the 'Qutob' has evolved into an organization with its own identity and received 19.13% of votes in the 1998 elections.

This year the Democratic Pole focused on the issue

The Palestinian jigsaw is reconstructed...

of Palestinian identity, whether Palestinians from the Occupied territories, inside the 1948 borders or dispersed across the world. Their rally began with a re-enactment of the 1948 dispossession, as refugees carried their belongings on their backs away from their destroyed villages and homeland.

In activities this year, the Pole have focused on re-establishing links with Palestinians living inside the 1948 borders as well as refugees.

... and the torch is lit

The rally depicted the gathering together of all Palestinians - a large jigsaw of Palestine was reconstructed and a torch placed on top. Democratic Pole members then danced and waved red flags, the traditional symbol of the left on campus.

• Interview with Democratic Pole representative

An Nahdah (the Awakening Bloc) in Action

Dome of the Rock surrounded by barbed wire

Last year's elections were won by the Islamic Bloc with 39.4% of the vote. This year the Islamic Bloc is running in a coalition with the Bloc of the Martyr Fathi Shiqaqi, a second Islamic grouping on campus, which received 0.94% of the vote in 1998. Shiqaqi was a Birzeit University graduate who was assassinated in Malta in 1995. The new coalition has been called 'An Nahdah' (The Awakening) Bloc.

Carrying photos of Palestinian martyrs

The Islamic bloc has focused their campaign on the issue of Palestinian prisoners, Jerusalem and Islam. In recent weeks many students have been arrested and detained on "charge" of being a member of the Islamic bloc.

Marching with the Dome of the Rock

During the rally, bloc members marched with their traditional black flags towards a model of the Dome of the Rock surrounded by barbed wire and signs reading "Washington" and "Oslo". Carrying large portraits of martyrs from the Palestinian struggle, the rally then broke through the barbed wire and lifted the model onto their shoulders.

• Interview with An Nahdah representative

Change Bloc in Action

Change Bloc speaker

Sticker from the Change Bloc

The bloc said that national unity should be on the basis of Palestinian blood and land. They said the student movement should maintain and respect differences and the freedom of speech and belief. Different participations, suggestions and opinions should be respected and student unity should be reflected in the party and political structure outside the university.

• Interview with Change Bloc representative