Latest News
Popular resistance conference in al-Ma'sara
Latest News, Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, August 24th, 2009

From the 13 – 15 of August, university students from across the West Bank gathered in al-Ma'sara to discuss popular resistance in the West Bank. Youth heard lectures on the history and means of grassroots resistance to the Wall and discussed ways in which work against the Wall in their respective districts. Participants also marched with the people of al-Ma'sara in the weekly action against the Wall.

On August 13, 127 university students arrived in al-Ma'sara. 45 were from Bethlehem, while the reminder hailed from the neighboring districts of Ramallah, Jericho and Hebron as well as from the northern regions of Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya and Tulkarm.

The aim of the conference was to further involve the university youth in the popular resistance movement and educate them about the realities on the ground. The popular committee coordinator in al-Ma'sara and the Campaign national coordinator were among the speakers, and both explained how the Wall and the settlements worked as a whole in the West Bank and the need to build up the popular resistance movement.

In order to involve students in the expansion of this movement, tactics and strategy were discussed, including the boycott and how to connect with popular committees and activists in their respective districts. Youth have played key roles in the organization of demonstrations in Jayyus and Ni'lin, and students were encouraged to take leadership roles in other parts of the West Bank.

Above: Students sit and listen to a lecture on grassroots organizing.