(Ynet News) Ron Ben-Yishai - "The Palestinians don't want an intifada," a senior security official in Israel said Sunday, but they may get one, referring to recent Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Israel and the American mediators are not firm enough in their demand that the Palestinian Authority stop the incitement against Israel in the media, while the PA is knowingly allowing a certain level of violence. It is doing nothing to stop the throwing of stones and firebombs, which are considered a legitimate part of a popular uprising. Abbas and his advisors believe, apparently, that they can control the popular uprising and not jeopardize the negotiations with Israel and the upcoming prisoner release. The Palestinian leadership is interested in having the international media cover the unrest in the West Bank, hoping that this will prompt not only the Israelis but also U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to accept their demands. But Abbas, as usual, is not taking into account the fact that the Palestinian street does not always interpret correctly the semi-aggressive signals he and his people convey. So Palestinians easily move from stones and firebombs to shooting and explosives. The Israeli intelligence community observed about six months ago that PA security forces are finding it difficult to enforce their authority in the refugee camps.
2013-12-25 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive