(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - Until recently, the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank used to arrest Palestinians who criticized its leaders, especially Mahmoud Abbas. But now the Palestinian Authority has resumed using thugs to break the bones of its critics. The thugs are often members of Abbas's ruling Fatah faction. However,they do not belong to Palestinian Authority security forces or any government-related agency in the West Bank. This allows the Palestinian Authority to distance itself from the thugs each time they perpetrate a crime. But the thugs, who are referred to by Palestinians as "Shabbiha," are known to act on instructions from top Palestinian Authority leaders. The last time the Palestinian Authority used its thugs was after a conference last weekend at Bethlehem University. A 34-year-old activist, Nizar Banat, who had asked a provocative question of PA Minister of Economy, Jawad Naji, was intercepted by seven thugs, who dragged him out of his car and beat him severely. By resorting to this policy of terror and intimidation against its critics and political opponents, the Palestinian Authority leadership in the West Bank is once again showing that it is not much different from other Arab dictatorships. It is these measures that have driven many Palestinians away from the Palestinian Authority and straight into the open arms of Hamas and other extremist groups.
2013-06-14 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive