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Re-targeting the Islamic bloc

January 23, 2014 at 6:28 am

The Israeli occupation is describing its open campaign against students associated with the Islamic bloc in West Bank universities as the “cutting the grass” operation. The expression seems clear enough when one observes the harsh blows dealt to those supporting the Islamic bloc, before, during, or after any of its union or national events. The most important thing to the occupation is to keep the blocs grass short and prevent it from growing, because they believe that the movement’s growth will result in fruitful resistance, which terrifies them.


It is only natural that this campaign is mirrored and complemented by Fatah security agencies measures in the West Bank. Though there are some alterations and modifications to make the campaign more lenient and flexible. They are targeting the Islamic bloc because they fear the success it might have in winning over students and out of jealousy, as the Fatah Youth Movement (Shabiba) are unable to keep up with their ideas and activities.

It would be undesirable for students to reach the point where they begin to compare the two blocs or note that the Islamic bloc is outdoing the others. If they did, the Fatah security agency would be called upon to intervene, disrupt and ruin the atmosphere, as well as distract the Islamic bloc from their efforts. They would be made to intimidate the students associated with the bloc and remind them that they have a high price to pay for their activities.

Those who have observed the security agencies high state of alert during student elections and how they rallied to support Shabiba and celebrated when they won would not be surprised that the agencies follow everything that happens at the university and are always prepared to intervene to take action. Actions include arresting their most prominent activists, falsely accusing them in order to attempt to extend their detention periods and deliberately ensuring their detention periods affect their academic studies.

This is where professionalism and student rights disappear and every concept of freedom is disregarded. These concepts of freedoms and rights are reserved for workshops and briefings that the PA leaders and security agency spokespeople use as façade for the cameras. Yet what happens in the prison cells and courts is completely different.

The Shabiba movement has never had to compete amongst the student body professionally as it has always relied on corrupt security agencies to help eliminate opponents when necessary. As long as its members are able to depend on their violence and thuggery or write reports against their colleagues who have different political opinions, then why make an effort to learn the foundations of student union work? All they need to do is practice their microphone skills and put them to use during the campaigning season.

The Islamic bloc needs to show more resilience and perseverance to challenge the arrogance and masked aggression of the Israeli “grass cutting” campaign. The national student body, alone, will decide if they allow security forces to continue to spoil the university’s atmosphere, or if they will be able to fend it off and retaliate.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.