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Source: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14520/palestinians-leaders-trust
Why Palestinians Do Not Trust Their Leaders
(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - Evidently, Palestinian leaders do not grasp that the Palestinian public cares a great deal more about being treated like human beings by their own leaders than about anti-Israel and anti-U.S. rhetoric. Although Palestinian leaders were hoping that tens of thousands would heed the PA call to participate in rallies against the U.S. and Israel in protest against the recent economic conference in Bahrain, it was evident that the number of participants was much lower than expected. In fact, most were members of PA President Mahmoud Abbas' ruling Fatah faction or government employees. Similarly, the number of Palestinians in Gaza who heed Hamas' call to head to the border with Israel for the weekly protests is in steady decline. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas devote enormous energy to inciting their constituents against Israel and the U.S. This incitement is the Palestinian leaders' way of distracting attention from problems at home. They want their people to be busy hating someone else.