Palestinians look on as mass protests spread (News Feature)

By Ofira Koopmans and Maher Abukhater Feb 3, 2011, 16:11 GMT

Ramallah - As Tunisia-inspired mass protests spread from Cairo to Sanaa and Amman this week, the biggest demonstration in the Palestinian areas drew only 100 people.

The Ramallah protest in support of the Egyptian people was quickly broken up by the security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for whom the unrest in Egypt is troubling.

Abbas has relied heavily on Egypt, not least for the regional super power's moral backing in his peace negotiations with Israel, as he struggles for legitimacy opposite the Islamist Hamas movement controlling the Gaza Strip.

Egypt, under the leadership of President Hosny Mubarak for over the last three decades, has played a key moderating role in the region. Wherever he travels, Abbas usually stops over in Cairo for consultations with the until now undisputed autocrat.

His security forces have subdued anti-Mubarak demonstrations in the central West Bank city. At the same time, few Palestinians have heeded calls on the likes of Facebook and Twitter to take to the streets.

By contrast, a pro-Mubarak demonstration in Ramallah - with about five people taking part - was allowed to go ahead Wednesday.

The vast majority of Palestinians say they identify with their Egyptian brothers who are demanding democratic, social and economic reforms.

Many dislike Mubarak, some even refer to him as a 'traitor' for 'collaborating' with Israel on security, and upholding for example Israel's blockade of Gaza.

Many Palestinians regard the 82-year-old leader as a puppet of the United States and Israel.

Some are cautious in voicing their support for Mubarak's ouster, others more vocal.

'We are with the people of of Egypt and support their demands,' says Mufeed Younis, a university student in Ramallah.

'We want to see a democratic regime in Egypt, but we want that done in a peaceful way,' he adds.

The events in Egypt are being followed closely in the West Bank.

But they do not bring large numbers of people to the streets, because many Palestinians seem to feel that the battle being fought in the streets of Cairo is not theirs.

Not only do their social and economic conditions differ from those in Egypt. The inhabitants of the West Bank are preoccupied with their lives amid a budding economy growing at a rate of up to 10 per cent, in sharp contrast to the impoverished Gaza Strip.

Also 'the political situation in Palestine,' explains Labour Minister Ahmad Majdalini, is different from other Arab countries.

'There is an Israeli occupation here, which is the main concern of the Palestinian people.'

Abbas, who in 2005 won presidential elections, declared free and fair by international observers, may be weak and at times unpopular. His legal term in office has ended and he has been unable to organise overdue elections without the cooperation of Hamas in Gaza. Yet, for ordinary Palestinians he is far from a dictator or autocrat.

'People here do not feel suppressed or economically deprived,' says Yara Yaish, a 22-year-old from Jerusalem who works in Ramallah.

'There are some who live a difficult economic life, but the majority seem content. Just look at the new cars in the streets and the packed coffee shops.'

Apart from the dozens who participate in weekly Friday protests against Israel's West Bank barrier in villages north-west of Jerusalem, the Palestinian public is still worn out by the Intifadas, or uprisings, of 1987-1993 and 2000-2005.

Abbas supporters have put out a call via the internet for an uprising against Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip. Hamas supporters have called for a uprising against Abbas' Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank.

One Facebook page administered by supporters of Abbas' Fatah party sets February 11 as the date for an uprising against Hamas in Gaza. Fatah Central Committee and former PA intelligence head Tawfik Tirawi has openly endorsed the call.

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