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The Palestinian Authority Is Unable to Mobilize Its People
(Al Jazeera) Mariam Barghouti - Within hours of the release of the U.S. peace plan, the PA called for mass demonstrations against the proposed deal but few turned up. Despite its rhetorical huffs and puffs, the Palestinian leadership could not muster a powerful reaction. Why? Since its establishment in 1994, the PA has violently quashed any public protest that threatened its grip on power. It has repeatedly deployed its national guard, riot police, and thugs loyal to Fatah, the party that dominates the PA, to suppress dissent. Years of suppression of dissent and harassment of civil society have left Palestinians disenchanted and has damaged their ability to effectively mobilize.