West Bank anger at Gaza strikes

[IndianaGreen]

So much for that subservient lapdog Abbas, shamefully taking money from Israel and US, while betraying the Palestinian people. May dogs feed on him!

West Bank anger at Gaza strikes

By Heather Sharp
BBC News, Ramallah

As the Israeli operation has continued, clashes have mounted at various sites across the West Bank, as groups of youths have gathered to throw rocks, hurl firebombs and burn tyres.

<snip>

Fatah flags are much in evidence, but the protesters' message is one of unity. "We are all brothers," says one youth; "We are all Gazans" reads a banner.

But among the protesters, frustrations are clearly growing with Mr Abbas, who has become increasingly involved with Israel in terms of security co-operation, but has little to show from months of negotiations aimed at securing a Palestinian state.

Ms Issa says she supports Fatah, but has "no comment" on Mr Abbas: "It's not just me, but all people will say 'no comment'."

And Motir Mawahda, 19, attending the rally with two friends also supportive of a fresh uprising, says Mr Abbas is dealing too deeply with the Israelis.

"He's speaking with the name of Fatah, but we don't like what he's doing," he says.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7803598.stm

[Scurrilous]

1. Police to exercise 'zero tolerance' policy against rioters

Senior police official says some riots held in protest of Gaza op initiated by private individuals, while others were 'covertly orchestrated' by Arab-Israeli leaders

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3647068,00.html

<snip>

"Some 100 Arab residents of east Jerusalem have been detained by Israeli security forces since the launching of operation Cast Lead in Gaza on Saturday. About 20 police and Border Guard officers sustained light injuries in disturbances, which did not spread to the western part of the capital.

At least 1,000 east Jerusalem residents took part in riots protesting Israel's military action in the Hamas-controlled territory. During the disturbances stones and Molotov cocktails were thrown at security forces.

Indictments have already been filed against some of the detainees.

In Beit Hanina, a Palestinian town located 4.5 miles (6 kilometers) to the north of Jerusalem, residents attempted to set up a mourners' tent in honor of those killed in Gaza but were stopped by police and Border Guard forces.

n the police's Northern District some 107 Arab teens suspected of rioting have been detained since Saturday.

"We will exercise zero tolerance in the face of the rioters and those inciting against Israel," Northern District Commander Shimon Koren told Ynet, "We were prepared for such scenarios."

[ellisonz]

2. The rest of the article is much more interesting:

Some locals describe Ramallah as a "bubble", where the economy has recovered faster from the violence of last intifada than in the rest of the West Bank, and middle-class Palestinians frequent bustling restaurants, bars and shops.

"As long as it's quiet, everything will get better, but now with these problems, nothing will get better," says a man who gives his name only as Mohammad, eating hummus in a friend's shoe shop as the protesters gather.

Even in the past two days, the increased tensions have made it harder for wholesalers to bring goods from Israel, he says.

He says he has been glued to the television "24-seven", and wept when he saw the first pictures of the aftermath of the Gaza bombings.

But "nobody" in the West Bank supports the idea of another intifada, he says. "It's not necessary. It wouldn't have any results, people would die for nothing," he says.

A supporter of Mr Abbas, he says Hamas "should take responsibility for what is happening".

"Of course I'm angry with them. This is the reaction to the missiles they fire - missiles that aren't even hurting the Israelis."