ABSTRACT
The political ascension of the Palestinian student movement was an indication of the PLO's influence over the public sphere in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Shabiba movement was established in the universities at a major crossroads for the PLO and Fatah, which required them to make difficult decisions. Beyond a framework for the indoctrination of its members, the Shabiba movement also served as an informal educational network. As a result of the PLO's overall strategy, the Shabiba flourished, with its public activities budget enabling the accumulation of vast political power. The Palestinian left-wing bloc and the underground cells of the Communists had the advantage of extensive organizational experience. Despite its failure to become a mass movement, the left-wing bloc played a decisive role in the development of the Palestinian student movement. Their international counterparts, daily scrutiny of the Israeli authorities limited the ability of Palestinian universities and students to publicly extol armed struggle as a mode of resistance.
