Introduction
The last few days have seen popular protests in the West Bank, sparked by the economic crisis and the price increases in the Palestinian Authority, Israel and worldwide. The protests broke out after a young Palestinian from Gaza, Ihab Abu Nada (dubbed "the Palestinian Bouazizi"), set himself on fire in an act of protest over the dire economic situation of himself and his family.[1] Another Gazan, Hassan Kahwaji, tried to set himself and his young daughter on fire in a Ramallah square, in protest against his poverty and his inability to pay for medical care for his daughter, but was stopped by passersby.[2] It is worth noting that although both these self-immolators were Gazan, the protests over the economic crisis in the West Bank and Gaza have so far been confined to the West Bank alone – although calls for protest have also been heard in Gaza, and it is reasonable to assume that the impulse to protest exists there as well.
Apparently, the Gazan public knows that the Hamas authorities would not tolerate demonstrations, whereas the PA leadership has so far allowed the protests and has even voiced solidarity with the demonstrators. Its tolerance was evident in the fact that the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida published an ad calling on the public to participate in a demonstration.
Hamas, for its part, blamed the PA for the economic crisis, while taking steps to prevent the spread of the protests to Gaza. PA President Mahmoud 'Abbas, on the other hand, blamed Israel for the crisis, and Fatah members took advantage of the wave of protests to call for the ouster of PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Left-wing forces like the National Initiative, headed by Mustafa Al-Barghouti, and the Liberation Front likewise blamed Israel for the economic crisis and called for stepping up the popular resistance against it.[3] The public anger over the high cost of living is also reflected in various Facebook pages dedicated to this issue, such as one called "Young Men and Women of Palestine against the Price Increases," which has about 15,000 "likes,"[4] and another called "We Are All Ihab Abu Nada – the Rage Revolution of the Gazans," which has over 4,000 "likes."[5]
The "We Are All Ihab Abu Nada" Facebook page[6]
Extensive Protests In West Bank
The protests took place in large parts of the West Bank, and some even turned violent. In Hebron, protesters threw stones at security personnel and broke into the police headquarters and the municipality building, leading to dozens of injuries on both sides.[7] Demonstrators in the city and surrounding villages burned tires, blocked major junctions, and erected a protest tent;[8] they also held up signs calling for 'Abbas's resignation, burned a doll representing Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, and called to revoke the Paris Agreement.[9] A cab driver from Hebron tried to set fire to his cab in protest against the rising prices.[10] Responding to calls from Hebron civil organizations, dozens of cab and truck drivers held a motorized procession through the city to protest against poverty and unemployment.[11]
West Bank demonstration[12]
Demonstrators in Ramallah burn tires and block traffic[13]
In Nablus, demonstrators threw stones at police[14] and announced that they would continue to demonstrate until Fayyad resigned,[15] and on September 10, 2012, public transport was shut down in all West Bank cities in an act of protest.[16] During a march in the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, young people, mostly Fatah and Popular Front members, banged on pots and pans to signify hunger and shouted slogans against Salam Fayyad's government, calling on him to resign.[17] Residents of Al-Khader, near Bethlehem, blocked traffic on the Jerusalem-Hebron road.[18] The General Union of Palestinian Workers called for the establishment of a committee to investigate the price increases and to launch a democratic and constructive dialogue.[19] In a union march in Jenin, union secretary-general Shaher Sa'd called for the rescinding of all price increases recently announced by the PA.[20] Following a call by the general secretariat of the Teachers Union, on September 5 school was dismissed after only four hours.[21]
Among the slogans heard at the demonstrations were: "Fayyad, we are not laying hens"; "no to the government of poverty and hunger"; "how long will we be paying your bills?"; "we will not burn ourselves for Fayyad"; "once we asked for Palestine, now we ask for a sack of flour"; "oh government, let us live in dignity"; and "Fayyad, this is Palestine, not Paris."[22]
Cost of living demonstration in Hebron[23]
Citizens attacking police officers in Nablus[24]
General Union of Palestinian Workers announces protest to demand minimum wage and social benefits[25]
'Abbas: The Palestinian Spring Has Begun; Only The End Of The Occupation Will Improve The Situation
Unlike during the previous wave of protests in the West bank, which was sparked by a planned visit to Ramallah by Israeli politician Shaul Mofaz,[26] this time PA authorities have shown tolerance towards the demonstrators and have not tried to suppress the protests by force – at least so far. In an attempt to shift the blame, they depicted Israel as responsible for the crisis, as well as some Arab countries that have not transferred promised funds to the PA. The Palestinian leadership took measures to contain the crisis by promising to alleviate the economic distress of the residents and by expressing solidarity with them, and 'Abbas even sent Israel a request to amend the Paris Agreement.[27]
At the summit of Arab League foreign ministers, Mahmoud 'Abbas said that the PA is working to cut taxes, but that this might affect its ability to pay salaries. At a press conference following his September 6 meeting with Egyptian President Muhammad Mursi, 'Abbas said that the PA is working to regulate prices, but that this issue is not in its hands, and likewise neither is the issue of payment of salaries.[28] 'Abbas added: "The Palestinian Spring has begun, and we support the people's statements and will."[29]
In a September 8 press conference in his office in Ramallah, 'Abbas said that the protests are "legitimate" because "there is poverty, hunger, need and pressure as a result of the [Israeli] siege." He continued: "The people have a right to take to the streets and express their opinion and their needs so that their voice is heard all over the world. However, [they must do so] peacefully and quietly. We agreed with Hamas [to hold] non-violent popular protests [against Israel]. Nonviolent demonstrations get the message across, unlike breaking public property and burning tires, which are violent actions...
"When you force business owners to close or open their shops or block roads, this harms the public interest. Stand on the pavement and say what you want, and we are willing to hear you and heed [your requests] as far as possible, but this activity must be [carried out in a] civilized and popular [manner]...
"Carried out in this manner, these actions are accepted and protected. The police will not approach the participants at all, and neither will the security apparatuses or any other authority – they will only stand by and monitor the events.
"You can say whatever you want and curse whoever you want, but you cannot do whatever you want, because that might cause damage. We do not want to vandalize public property. To those who meant to vandalize the municipality [offices] I say, how is [the municipality] connected to your demands? Why break a street lamp that lights people's way? That is completely unacceptable...
"Some have said to me, 'You went too far in encouraging [the people] to take [to the streets']. To this I replied, 'True, I did encourage them and I am not against them.' I am not against any citizen who expresses his opinion on any issue here in the Muqata'a, because, after all, the people want to have their say and we are on their side. We hare here for the people. They elected us, and if today they no longer want us, there is nothing wrong with that. We will review all the requests and do our best, but we too face difficulties."
Depicting Israel as responsible for the crisis, 'Abbas added: "There will be no far-reaching economic solutions without the withdrawal of the occupation. Once it withdraws, I will be free to act within the boundaries of the international law, but [for now] the occupation hobbles me."[30]
'Abbas wrote in a similar vein on his Facebook page: "The Palestinian spring has begun and we uphold the people's will. The Palestinian people's demands to lower prices and receive their full wages are justified demands. We will not capitulate to the occupation's [attempts] to blackmail us, sometimes by threatening us and sometimes by starving us in order to cause us to despair."[31]
Salam Fayyad said that the occupation and the Fatah-Hamas schism, along with the global price increases, are responsible for the economic crisis, but that the PA is nevertheless making efforts to improve the people's standard of living..[32] He announced that the PA is waiting for money transfers from abroad in order to pay the August salaries.[33]
Economy Minister Jawwad Naji blamed the difficulties on the global crisis and promised to continue fighting the price rises. The PA government authorized its ministerial economy committee to review the options and suggest solutions to the crisis. [34]
As the protests increased in intensity, Fayyad announced that he was not shirking responsibility for the economic crisis, and expressed a willingness to resign if the people demanded it and if it would ensure an end to the crisis. He added that the solution would be a matter of policy rather than a personnel reshuffle.[35] 'Abbas said that he bore responsibility for the management of the PA and that Fayyad was operating according to his directives. [36]
Warnings Of Impending Explosion
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In light of the protests in the West Bank, some warned of an imminent explosion among the Palestinian public, while others said that the conditions are not yet ripe for it. Among the former was Popular Front central committee member Jamil Mazhar, who called on the authorities in the PA and Gaza to avert the explosion by providing employment for young people, saying that otherwise protests would naturally erupt.[37]
Hazem Salama, a columnist on a PA-affiliated website, wrote: "The people are still keeping silent, watching and waiting. How many Bouazizis will it take for us to break our silence?... Is it not time to wake up and restore the people's rights that have been denied and its life that has been stolen?"[38]
PA former minister for prisoner affairs Ashraf Al-'Ajrami said that the Palestinian demonstrations have not yet reached the level of the Arab spring protests, and explained that this is not because the situation in Palestine is better, but only because the people do not believe in the possibility of change. However, he warned that the protests should not be underestimated. If conditions deteriorate any further, he said, the situation could change, and therefore the PA must work to improve the people's lives, especially by cutting taxes.[39]
Hamas Takes Steps To Prevent Spread Of Protests To Gaza
Though the self-immolators who sparked the protests were Gazan, Gaza itself has not seen any protests so far, presumably because its people expect Hamas to suppress them. However, at the initiative of the Popular Front, the Democratic Front and the Palestinian People's Party, Gazan workers' unions agreed to form a committee to draw up plans for protests against the high cost of living.
Hamas has taken some steps to prevent the protests from spreading to Gaza. The head of the Gaza religious judiciary, Dr. Hassan Al-Jojo, ruled that self-immolation was a sin and that suicides were doomed to hell.[40] After Moussa Abu Marzouq, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, implied in an interview that the protests might spread to Gaza, the movement hastened to clarify that his statement had been distorted.[41] As for practical gestures, the head of the union of petrol and gas companies in Gaza said that an agreement has been signed with Hamas to lower the price of gas imported from Egypt to Gaza.[42] In addition, Hamas Prime Minister Isma'il Haniya granted Ihab Abu Nada's family $2,000 in compensation for his death.[43] This step sparked much sarcastic criticism in Gaza, for example on the "We Are All Ibrahim Abu Nada" Facebook page (see image below). The headline says "first they steal your livelihood, then they give you a slice of bread [as compensation] and expect you to thank them for their generosity." [44]
* C. Jacob is a research fellow at MEMRI.
[1] Alaahd.ps, September 3, 2012.
[2] Maannews.net, September 5, 2012.
[3] WAFA (PA), September 9, 2012.
[7] Alarabiya.net, September 10, 2012.
[8] WAFA (PA), September 6, 2012.
[9] Alarabiya.net, September 10, 2012; maannews.net, September 5, 2012. "Paris Agreement" in question is the Protocol on Economic Relations between Israel and the PA signed in Paris on 4 May 1994, which governs economic relations between the two parties.
[10] Safa.ps, September 6, 2012.
[11] Al-Ayyam (PA), September 4, 2012.
[12] Alarabiya.net, September 10, 2012.
[13] WAFA (PA), September 10, 2012.
[14] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (PA), September 11, 2012.
[15] Amad.ps, September 5, 2012.
[16] Al-Ayyam (PA), September 11, 2012.
[17] Al-Quds (Jerusalem), September 4, 2012.
[18] WAFA (PA), September 6, 2012.
[19] Al-Quds (Jerusalem), September 4, 2012.
[20] Al-Ayyam (PA), September 7, 2012.
[21] WAFA (PA), September 6, 2012.
[22] Maannews.net, September 5, 2012.
[23] WAFA (PA), September 10, 2012.
[24] Alquds.com, September 10, 2012.
[25] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (PA), September 6, 2012.
[26] On the previous wave of demonstrations, see MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 862, Public Protest In Ramallah And Fears Of 'Palestinian Spring', July 26, 2012.
[27] Maannews.net, September 9, 2012.
[28] WAFA (PA), September 7, 2012.
[29] WAFA (PA), September 6, 2012.
[30] WAFA (PA), September 8, 2012.
[32] Maannews.net, September 5, 2012.
[33] WAFA (PA), September 7, 2012.
[34] Maannews.net, September 5, 2012.
[35] Al-Ayyam (PA), September 7, 2012.
[36] WAFA (PA), September 8, 2012.
[37] Amad.ps, September 6, 2012.
[38] Amad.ps, September 5, 2012.
[39] Al-Ayyam (PA), September 5, 2012.
[40] Maannews.net, September 6, 2012. PA Mufti Muhammad Hussein issued a similar ruling. Paltoday.ps, September 6, 2012.
[41] Maannews.net, Alaahd.ps, September 8, 2012. It should be noted that the Maan news agency, which conducted the interview, insisted that it was authentic in all its details.
[42] Alaahd.ps, September 9, 2012.
[43] Alaahd.ps, September 5, 2012.
[44] http://www.facebook.com/KlnaAyhabAbwNdyThwrtGhdbAhlGhzt, September 9, 2012.
