Democratic Palestine : 29 (ص 8)
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- Democratic Palestine : 29 (ص 8)
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their ties to the remnants of their land. This can best be
described as the semiproletarization of the peasantry. The
peasants who have continued to farm are obviously involved in
a daily struggle to maintain their cultivation in the face of the
occupation authorities’ restrictions and the ever-present threat
of expropriation.
In addition to these objective factors motivating the
Palestinian peasantry to confront the occupation, subjective
factors played a role as well. Many of the peasants who
migrated to urban areas for work, were influenced by the
political atmosphere and national. organizations. Also,
children of peasant families have gone on to study at univer-
sities in the towns and abroad. Those who return after gradua-
tion have played an important role in raising the political con-
sciousness in the rural areas. Moreover, the Palestinian
resistance has directed more attention to the countryside.
Committees were formed to aid the peasantry, such as volun-
tary work committees, literacy committees and farmers aid
committees.
VILLAGERS IN REVOLT
Due to the media black-out imposed by the Israeli
authorities, and the difficulties of journalists reaching the rural
areas, there was initially little information about the Palesti-
nian villagers’ participation in the uprising. Their role has,
however, been substantial.
Of the first 100 martyrs of the uprising, 29 were from the
countryside, as were 693 of the first 1,000 injured, all from 62
villages. These figures rose as the uprising went on. The largest
percentage of martyrs in the second 100 martyrs was among
the peasants (54%), as compared to 27% in the towns and 19%
in the camps; 29% of the second 1,000 injuries occurred in the
countryside, as compared to 28.4% in the towns and 43.1% in
the camps. Casualties rose in the countryside, especially in the
third and fourth months of the uprising, as villagers took a
more active part in confronting the Israeli troops, while their
brothers in towns and camps suffered under almost continuous
curfews, closed military areas and massive arrests. In the first
three weeks of the uprising, 20 villages participated. By the end
of January, 86 villages were involved. By the end of February,
nearly 200 villages were participating. As of late March, this
number rose to 232.
The names of some villages were frequently repeated in the
media. These were the scene of daily mass demonstrations and
bloody confrontations.
All the villages of the West Bank participated in the Day of
Rage called on February 16th by the United National Leader-
ship. On April 4th, clashes between villagers and the occupa-
tion troops took place simultaneously in Qabatya, Arrabah
and Yaabad. The general strike protesting Schultz’s visit, call-
ed by the United National Leadership, was observed
throughout the countryside.
The Israeli authorities reacted viciously, employing the most
fascist methods against the villagers. In Anabta, for example,
Israeli troops killed three and injured 32 in single day, while
confronting a demonstration. In Salem village, the Israelis
buried four young men alive. In the village of Beita, over 50
homes were demolished and the school was transformed into a
prison in «retaliation» for the death of an Israeli girl who was
shot by a settler. In the villages of Batear and Al Khada,
soldiers completely destroyed the water lines. Both Al Yamoun
and Seelet Al Harthyeh villages were closed off for over a
month, and many homes were destroyed. In Al Izereyeh
8
village, the Zionist authorities sealed the headquarters of the
Muslim Youth. In all of these villages, fierce battles had taken,
place between the villagers and the occupation troops.
Villagers have shown great courage in confronting the
Israelis. In Dhahriah, for example, the inhabitants were able to
prevent soldiers from entering the village; they destroyed 15
military vehicles during a confrontation. Many villages have
been declared liberated areas for several days after fierce bat-
tles with the occupiers.
CONFRONTING TRAITORS/COORDINATED
ACTION
Palestinian villagers have implemented the calls of the
United National Leadership with great precision. Late in
February, following Call No. 7, villagers in Qabatya hung the
collaborator, Mohammad AI Ayad, and burned his house. In
Kafr Al Deek, villagers attacked the homes of several col-
laborators. In Al Aseera, the homes of Village League col-
laborators were attacked by the people. On March 25th. four
collaborators in the village of Alas announced their repentance
in the mosque and turned over their weapons to the village
council. Such disciplinary actions scared other collaborators
into recanting, as happened with the infamous Zuhair
Mahmoud in Silwad.
Workers trom the villages joined in the workers’ strike.
Villagers also participated in the strike by burning buses that
transport Palestinians to work in ‘Israel’, as happened in Izbat
Al Jarad. Following the directions of Call No. 10, a military
bus was burned in Beit Ommas.
Villages near camps that were constantly under curfew sent
food supplies to these camps. The residents of Tamoun village.
for example, sent a convoy of three trucks to the besieged
Balata camp. Following Call No.11 of the United National
Leadership, residents of several villages forced the appointed
village councils, mayors and mukhtars to resign. On March
29th, the date set by Call No. 11, 80% of town and village
councils in the Gaza Strip had resigned.
Peasants constitute a major force in the Palestinian libera-
tion struggle. To elevate their contribution to the struggle
against the occupation, more attention should be devoted to
organizing them in the existing political organizations.
Organizations, especially for peasants should also be formed in
all villages, in order to eventually establish the union of
Palestinian peasants in the occupied territories. The peasants
should be given material aid to enable them to adhere to and
cultivate their land. This is especially needed at this stage of the
uprising, since the move to civil disobedience depends to a
great extent on the Palestinian people’s ability to attain a
greater level of self-sufficiency. Palestinian agriculture and the
peasants’ role are crucial in providing the material base for
steadfastness.
THE MERCHANTS’ ROLE
Probably the most dramatic proof of the unity of the whole
Palestinian people in the current uprising is the role of the
merchants. Though all Palestinian classes have suffered under
the occupation, the merchant strata is the one least harmed.
The merchants of the 1967 occupied territories are part of the
Pzlestinian bourgeoisie and petit bourgeolsie. They can be
divided into two strata: brokers and shopkeepers. The brokers
function mainly as middlemen, marketing Israeli goods in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip. Historically, this strata has
benefited from the occupation in economic terms, and the end - هو جزء من
- Democratic Palestine : 29
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