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| Anger over price increases stokes West Bank protests | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Protests in West Bank cities against price increases have escalated over the past week with thousands of Palestinians taking to the streets, some of whom are burning tyres, stoning buildings and clashing with security forces. | Protests in West Bank cities against price increases have escalated over the past week with thousands of Palestinians taking to the streets, some of whom are burning tyres, stoning buildings and clashing with security forces. |
| Hebron, the most volatile city in the West Bank, was the scene of confrontations on Monday when several thousand protesters threw stones and rocks at a police station and municipal offices. Dozens of police officers and protesters were injured in clashes, during which teargas was fired. | Hebron, the most volatile city in the West Bank, was the scene of confrontations on Monday when several thousand protesters threw stones and rocks at a police station and municipal offices. Dozens of police officers and protesters were injured in clashes, during which teargas was fired. |
| There have also been protests in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem and Jericho, with roads blocked by burning tyres and rubbish bins. Strikes by taxi and bus drivers have paralysed the West Bank's public transport system. The area's public transport union estimated more than 24,000 members have joined strike action. Many schools and universities have also been shut. | There have also been protests in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem and Jericho, with roads blocked by burning tyres and rubbish bins. Strikes by taxi and bus drivers have paralysed the West Bank's public transport system. The area's public transport union estimated more than 24,000 members have joined strike action. Many schools and universities have also been shut. |
| The immediate cause of the protests is anger over the rising cost of living. Petrol prices recently rose by 5%, to more than $2 a litre, following similar increases in Israel, which supplies fuel to the West Bank. The cost of basic foods has also gone up. | The immediate cause of the protests is anger over the rising cost of living. Petrol prices recently rose by 5%, to more than $2 a litre, following similar increases in Israel, which supplies fuel to the West Bank. The cost of basic foods has also gone up. |
| Meanwhile the Palestinian Authority has announced it is unable to pay salaries due to its 153,000 employees, following a big shortfall in aid donations. The PA is frequently unable to pay its workers, on whom thousands more Palestinians are dependent. According to the World Bank, unemployment in the West Bank and Gaza is more than 20%, but the figure rises to almost 35% among young people. | Meanwhile the Palestinian Authority has announced it is unable to pay salaries due to its 153,000 employees, following a big shortfall in aid donations. The PA is frequently unable to pay its workers, on whom thousands more Palestinians are dependent. According to the World Bank, unemployment in the West Bank and Gaza is more than 20%, but the figure rises to almost 35% among young people. |
| Initially the protests were welcomed by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who described them as the Palestinian Spring. The main target of the demonstrators was the independent prime minister Salam Fayyad, who is highly regarded by the west but disliked by both main political factions, Fatah and Hamas. Calls for Fayyad to resign have been widespread during recent days. | Initially the protests were welcomed by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who described them as the Palestinian Spring. The main target of the demonstrators was the independent prime minister Salam Fayyad, who is highly regarded by the west but disliked by both main political factions, Fatah and Hamas. Calls for Fayyad to resign have been widespread during recent days. |
| However, protesters have also begun calling for Abbas to go and attacking corruption within the PA, indicating the potential for the protests to spin beyond the control of the dominant faction, Fatah. Palestinian security forces, who kept a low profile during the first days of demonstrations, are now using teargas and stun grenades in an attempt to disperse demonstrators. | However, protesters have also begun calling for Abbas to go and attacking corruption within the PA, indicating the potential for the protests to spin beyond the control of the dominant faction, Fatah. Palestinian security forces, who kept a low profile during the first days of demonstrations, are now using teargas and stun grenades in an attempt to disperse demonstrators. |
| But one senior Palestinian official predicted that protesters' anger would be turned against Israel's occupation of the West Bank. "People on the streets are suffering from a lack of income, high prices and restrictions on movement," said Nabil Shaath, a member of Fatah. "This is a war against our total loss of political horizon, and of being robbed of every piece of our land and freedom. People are going back to struggle, non-violent struggle, and will eventually turn against Israel." | But one senior Palestinian official predicted that protesters' anger would be turned against Israel's occupation of the West Bank. "People on the streets are suffering from a lack of income, high prices and restrictions on movement," said Nabil Shaath, a member of Fatah. "This is a war against our total loss of political horizon, and of being robbed of every piece of our land and freedom. People are going back to struggle, non-violent struggle, and will eventually turn against Israel." |
| Some have demanded the scrapping of an economic agreement signed between Israel and the Palestinians in 1994 following the Oslo Accords, under which the PA was set up. The agreement, known as the Paris Protocol, gave Israel control over the Palestinians' external trade, governed the collection of customs duties by Israel on behalf of the PA and pegged VAT in the Palestinian territories to the Israeli rate. Critics say it has led to prices in the West Bank being similar to those in Israel, while wages are around a third. | Some have demanded the scrapping of an economic agreement signed between Israel and the Palestinians in 1994 following the Oslo Accords, under which the PA was set up. The agreement, known as the Paris Protocol, gave Israel control over the Palestinians' external trade, governed the collection of customs duties by Israel on behalf of the PA and pegged VAT in the Palestinian territories to the Israeli rate. Critics say it has led to prices in the West Bank being similar to those in Israel, while wages are around a third. |
| A demonstration called for Tuesday evening by Palestinians for Dignity, a youth organisation, demanded the abolition of the agreement. "They are putting the burden where it belongs – on the Paris Protocol and Israel's occupation," said Palestinian economist Sam Bahour. "The issue is the framework of occupation that is causing economic hardship, not a tax increase here or a tax increase there." | A demonstration called for Tuesday evening by Palestinians for Dignity, a youth organisation, demanded the abolition of the agreement. "They are putting the burden where it belongs – on the Paris Protocol and Israel's occupation," said Palestinian economist Sam Bahour. "The issue is the framework of occupation that is causing economic hardship, not a tax increase here or a tax increase there." |
| Abbas this week formally requested a review of the Paris Protocol. | Abbas this week formally requested a review of the Paris Protocol. |
| A World Bank report published in April said: "Only a dynamic and rapidly growing private sector will be able to provide the jobs needed by the expanding Palestinian sector and generate the revenues required to fund essential services... The removal of Israeli restrictions on access to markets and natural resources continues to be a prerequisite for the expansion of the Palestinian private sector." | A World Bank report published in April said: "Only a dynamic and rapidly growing private sector will be able to provide the jobs needed by the expanding Palestinian sector and generate the revenues required to fund essential services... The removal of Israeli restrictions on access to markets and natural resources continues to be a prerequisite for the expansion of the Palestinian private sector." |