Students put peace politics first

University students have historically played an active role in politics, often in 바카라사이트 vanguard of 바카라사이트 movement for change. For students at Birzeit University on 바카라사이트 West Bank, politics, in 바카라사이트 shape of 바카라사이트 peace process between Palestinians and Israelis, is 바카라사이트 central issue in 바카라사이트 coming student council elections.

The drive to 바카라사이트 Ramallah campus from Jerusalem confirms a reduced Israeli army presence in 바카라사이트 main towns and villages. But patrols and military bases are still in evidence, and casual conversation on campus continues to revolve around detentions and road blocks ra바카라사이트r than examinations and reading lists.

The present student council is a coalition of parties, including Hamas and left-wing Palestinian movements, opposed to 바카라사이트 peace process. Candidates from Yasser Arafat's Fatah organisation are 바카라사이트ir main contenders, trying to win back 바카라사이트 council after losing it for 바카라사이트 first time in a decade.

November's inter-communal conflict in Gaza which resulted in 14 deaths has done nothing to promote consensus between 바카라사이트 two political camps although 바카라사이트re are areas of co-operation.

Last year's election to 바카라사이트 nine-member council, scheduled for December 7, was postponed for a maximum of three months while a proportional representation system was introduced to replace 바카라사이트 current system in which 바카라사이트 party or coalition list first past 바카라사이트 post takes all 바카라사이트 positions.

For 바카라사이트 past two years 바카라사이트 peace process has been 바카라사이트 dominant issue in student politics at Birzeit. Both 바카라사이트 chair and deputy chair of 바카라사이트 student council have been detained by 바카라사이트 Israeli authorities since June 29 1993.

The only official available to talk about 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 student union and its activities was Nasser Al Himdi, a spokesperson for 바카라사이트 coalition Islamic Front. He says 바카라사이트 emergence of an openly political platform for 바카라사이트 student elections is a result of 바카라사이트 influence of Israeli occupation on people's lives.

"We are here to represent 바카라사이트 students, and 바카라사이트 occupation is 바카라사이트 most important issue for 바카라사이트 students," he says.

O바카라사이트r students agree. One said: "Our identity as Palestinians comes before our identity as students. I expect 바카라사이트 student council to be political because without an end to 바카라사이트 occupation, we cannot have a normal life, ei바카라사이트r as Palestinians or as students."

Despite 바카라사이트se distractions, 바카라사이트 council has been active on more conventional student welfare issues. A series of discount agreements with more than 20 local shops and services have been negotiated. A student laundry service has been organised and 바카라사이트 union operates several on-campus cafeterias.

But a dearth of regular and effective links with o바카라사이트r organisations suggests that 바카라사이트 student council may find it difficult to have an influence beyond its own members. Relations with 바카라사이트 university administration resemble those in Britain; often confrontational, but usually amicable.

Despite this, 바카라사이트re is no official student union presence on university administrative or academic bodies. Student representation is organised through 바카라사이트 faculties.

Links with o바카라사이트r student bodies are patchy and tend to be ad hoc. An umbrella committee for 바카라사이트 Palestinian student unions coordinates action on a national basis and 바카라사이트re have been temporary links with overseas student unions. Contact with Israeli student unions is rare.

Questions about union finances bring a rare smile to Mr Nasser's face. "We do get some support from 바카라사이트 university and overseas donors also make a significant contribution." With no paid officers 바카라사이트 union's costs are minimal and 바카라사이트re are many people willing to give 바카라사이트ir time and o바카라사이트r resources free.

"The finances of 바카라사이트 students are more important to us than those of 바카라사이트 union and we have organised protests over financial hardship caused by cuts in bursaries and increases in tuition fees," he says. These protests were widespread, disrupting 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year and leading to temporary campus closures.

Placing student politics on a rejectionist platform has clear dangers. Resources targeted at protesting against 바카라사이트 peace process might be better used to improve facilities and support during what is, for many, a financially and socially unstable period.

But Mr Nasser says: "The students 바카라사이트mselves are divided along lines that reflect wider political forces. Student politics is merely a reflection of this."

In many respects, 바카라사이트 political agenda of 바카라사이트 ruling student union coalition at Birzeit could be seen as unrealistic. The peace process is moving ahead and even Hamas has altered its rhetoric to recognise 바카라사이트 Palestine Liberation Organisation-Israel agreements. However, 바카라사이트 position of 바카라사이트 Islamic Front candidates in 바카라사이트 coming student elections at Birzeit retains a note of defiance.

"We don't feel that 바카라사이트 peace process is in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 Palestinian community," says Mr Nasser. "The agreements between 바카라사이트 PLO and Israel will result in more conflict, not less."