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Will the Next Intifada Target the Palestinian Authority? - Avi Issacharoff

(Times of Israel) Considering all the incitement and hate speech filling Palestinian social media, things are relatively quiet throughout the West Bank. While stones and firebombs have been thrown, there are almost no organized demonstrations or riots except for specific memorial days. The Israel Security Agency reported 67 significant terror attacks in May (including firebombs), while there were 483 in October 2015. On the Palestinian street, public hatred of Israel and of the Palestinian Authority as well appears to be greater than ever. But things have calmed down on the ground and the number of terror attacks continues to drop. One Palestinian commentator told the Times of Israel, "There is a difference between praising the Al-Quds Intifada or the attacks in Tel Aviv and the willingness to engage in a terror attack. Most of the public, and even most of the young people, prefer to continue working or studying and not be killed. What for? They also realize that the possibility that a stabbing attack will lead to change is close to zero. Also, today anyone who writes on Facebook or anyplace else that he wants to perpetrate a terror attack is arrested right away." His colleague sees things a bit differently. Why is the situation in the West Bank so calm? "There are quite a few reasons for that. First, the realization that stabbing or ramming attacks bring no benefit. Nothing. So there's more support now for shooting attacks and even for suicide attacks." "Second, this is the Palestinian Authority. The young people see it as part of the problem, not part of the solution. In other words, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas himself came out against these terror attacks when he said that the security services were holding inspections at schools and confiscating knives. Also [intelligence chief Majid] Faraj made similar statements. So people are thinking twice. What benefit will come from something like this if the Palestinian leadership itself is working against anyone who plans or wants to perpetrate terror attacks?" "The situation is still very explosive. The motivation of these young people to fight against Israel and Israelis still exists. But as I see it, the next stage we see will be an outbreak against the Palestinian Authority itself, and against Israel at the same time. The hostility that the young people felt toward the "occupation" is changing its form, and now it is against the PA. They see the PA as a heavy burden that damages the effort toward change and does not benefit it. They follow the incitement on social media, including against Abbas, and it influences them."
2016-06-21 00:00:00
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