Hundreds protest against Abbas in Ramallah

Hundreds protest against Abbas in Ramallah

Al-Akhbar English
03/07/2012

Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday to protest against the violent dispersal of two similar rallies over the weekend.

Palestinian protest against police violence and "military rule" in Ramallah 1 July 2012. (Photo: AFP - Abbas Momani)

The demonstrations are a rare expression of public discontent with the West Bank's ruling Palestinian Authority, headed by president Mahmoud Abbas.

As the rally got started, several hundred demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, watched by only a handful of local police.

The demonstration was called by the "Palestinians for Dignity" youth group, and comes after Abbas' security forces broke up two earlier protests, on Saturday and Sunday.

"With this march we emphasize that the people are the source of authority, and that we reject the use of violence against the Palestinian people by any and all hands," the group said in a statement.

On Sunday evening, Palestinian police and plainclothes security officials beat a crowd of around 200 demonstrators in Manara Square, injuring at least three and arresting several others.

Sunday's rally followed a demonstration a day earlier called by activists to protest against a planned meeting between Abbas and Israeli vice prime minister Shaul Mofaz, who they accuse of committing war crimes against the Palestinians.

During that demonstration, Palestinian security forces prevented protesters from marching to Abbas's Ramallah headquarters, and clashes broke out.

At least three activists were hospitalized, and security forces also attacked journalists covering the rally. At least seven people were arrested.

In the wake of Sunday's violence, Abbas's office said it would establish a commission to investigate the incidents, but activists have little faith in any investigation carried out by the Palestinian Authority, which they consider a collaborator with the Israeli occupation.

The protests were sparked by a bid last week by activists to prevent a scheduled meeting between Abbas and Mofaz in Ramallah, which was later cancelled with neither side giving an explanation for the decision.

The demonstrators on Tuesday called on Abbas to abandon peace talks with Israel altogether, waving signs reading: "No to negotiations with the murderer Mofaz."

Protest organizers also called on Abbas and his government to issue "an unequivocal announcement to abandon negotiations" with Israel, calling it the "bare minimum" they expected from him.

Abbas is accused of running a quasi-dictatorship in the West Bank, clamping down on any signs of internal dissent, even within the ranks of his Fatah movement.

Palestinian activists say Abbas fears an uprising in the West Bank, inspired by similar popular revolts in the Arab world, targeting his rule that, they argue, is embroiled in corruption.

(AFP, Al-Akhbar)

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