darity basis.
I next go to meet Mohammet Aruri, who is on the Executive of the Palestian Federation of Trade Unions, and is the Ramallah Area Secretary. In meetings with other groups they have told me that Palestinian trade unions are not democratic and never have elections.
Mohammed tells me that the greatest help British trade unions could give would be to help train PGFTU members on holding democratic elections, because his members have never seen any.
No elections have taken place for 10 years, partly because of logistical difficulties, but also because some people don't want to lose their positions. He is part of the Democratic Workers Movement' in the PFTU, which aims to change this. camp, the biggest camp in the West Bank, with a population of 18,000. I am here to work with human rights activists, trying to limit the oppressive activities of the Israeli Army through non-violent direct action.
Most of the internationals are going out to sit on the street, where the Israelis put a barricade at the entrance to the camp, which the internationals knocked down, and which they want to stop the Israelis replacing.
One of the major activities at the moment is going to houses that the Israeli Army requisition. The army take the top floors of the house, make all the family move in to the ground floor, and then refuse to allow them to leave the house, effectively using them as human shields. The internationals take them food and try to make sure they are OK. Day 9
We are told that bulldozers are replacing the earth and stone blockages at all the entrances to Balata Camp. We put on our forward. At this point some of us crack, and the bulldozer wins. are too late. We agree to knock down the barricade to the main entrance but with shooting continuing and constant flares, decide to wait until the morning.
We get up at 5.30am and by 7am we
We withdraw to discuss where we went Day 11 wrong, then head for the next entrance but shooting goes on for hours.
When we get up in the morning we find that the Israelis have replaced the barricades all around the camp. These barriers stop ambulances and fire engines. This is clearly against international law. ture out of their houses, ready for the demolition. So we finally get to sleep in the virtually furniture-less houses. I lie there wondering what it must be like for the family not knowing whether they will have a house in the morning.
A lot of shooting starts in the village at about 4am. I'm told jumpy soldiers often