EXPECT ANOTHER INTIFADA IF ISRAEL REFUSES TO REMOVE METAL DETECTORS
▶ As emotions run high over new Israeli measures, analysts say Palestinian leadership is unable to control situation
Israel must remove the metal detectors at the entrances to Al Aqsa Mosque compound to avoid a major escalation in violence in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, leading Palestinian analysts said yesterday.
Given the outrage over the detectors, widely regarded by Palestinians as a step towards Israel taking control of Al Aqsa, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas should not be expected to intervene to limit confrontations with Israeli forces, the analysts said.
They stressed that Palestinian anger added to long-standing bitterness because of the failure of the peace process and Israeli occupation.
“The leadership will not be able to quieten the situation because emotions are so high over Al Aqsa and there is a big failure of the peace process and all the people are affected by Israeli measures against their rights,” said Talal Awkal, a columnist for Al Ayyam daily newspaper in Ramallah.
“There is so much frustration. I expect a popular, general intifada. In this intifada the individuals will do much more than the factions. They will take the responsibility to confront the Israelis.”
Mr Awkal predicts another intifada will consist of throwing stones and lone attacks similar to Friday night’s stabbing of three settlers by a Palestinian who breached the West Bank settlement of Halamish.
Omar Al Abed, 19, had been outraged over Israel’s measures at Al Aqsa, according to a post he wrote on Facebook before the attack.
“Even if he was in an organisation, he didn’t act according to the decision of the leadership, he moved alone,” Mr Awkal said. “Many people can do it alone without being in an organisation. Many will try similar attacks.”
Israeli police installed the metal detectors after an attack by three Palestinian gunmen at an entrance to the mosque compound, Islam’s third-holiest site, but which is also revered by Jews.
While the Israeli authorities said this was a necessary security step, Palestinians believed it reflected Israeli intentions to take control of the site.
Three Palestinians were killed and hundreds wounded in Jerusalem on Friday when Israeli security forces fired on Palestinians protesting against the metal detectors.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu upheld the decision to instal the metal detectors despite the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, recommending they be removed.
“I don’t know what will trigger another attack but Palestinians have had enough,” said Samir Awad, a political scientist at Bir Zeit University in the West Bank.
“The situation is going to get much worse. This time it is totally in the hands of Netanyahu. If he decides his new measures are to be implemented, he should expect another intifada. If reason prevails, there won’t be one.”
On Friday evening, Mr Abbas announced that the Palestinian Authority would sever all ties with Israel until the metal detectors were removed. Mr Awad attributed this decision to popular pressure from Palestinians.
In his view, it was the intervention of Mr Abbas that prevented street violence turning into an all-out uprising in 2015. But this time emotions are so charged that the Palestinian leader cannot order his security forces to block demonstrators from confronting Israeli troops.
“He can’t do that,” Mr Awad said. “He doesn’t want to be viewed as standing with Israel against his people. If Palestinian police clash with demonstrators, Abbas loses legitimacy and power and he doesn’t want to be in that situation.”
Instead, Mr Abbas is more likely to “intensify contacts with Jordan, Egypt and Turkey to try to bring Israel back to reason”.
But Mr Awad said: “The Palestinian streets are very volatile. Things can go wrong any time. Al Aqsa is a place heavily charged with emotions, people are willing to die for it and become martyrs going to heaven.
“A lot of Palestinians feel they are defending Al Aqsa on behalf of all Muslims.”
Demonstrations were also held in solidarity by Palestinians around the world, from Kuala Lumpur to Khartoum.
“If the Netanyahu government doesn’t change course, we are heading to a full explosion and a new cycle of violence unfortunately,” said Qais Abdul Karim, a veteran member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
“The Palestinian people are all mobilised now and completely provoked because of the Israeli measures that are insulting their dignity and religion. All kinds of popular anger is to be expected.
“Many Palestinians believe we have got to the end of the rope and the existence of the Palestinian people is in danger.”
This time it is totally in the hands of Netanyahu. If he decides his new measures are to be implemented, he should expect another intifada. If reason prevails, there won’t be one