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Anger over price increases fuels West Bank protests Protests force Palestinian PM to declare emergency economic package
(about 4 hours 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 them burning tyres, stoning buildings and clashing with security forces. The Palestinian prime minister has been forced to declare an emergency economic package after more than a week of escalating protests over spiralling prices in West Bank cities. Thousands of Palestinians have taken to the streets, some 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. Among the measures announced by Salam Fayyad, who has been the main target of protesters' anger‚ were the cancellation of recent price rises in fuel and cooking gas, a cut in VAT, a promise to pay half of the salaries due to public employees by Wednesday, and "progressive deductions" from the salaries of senior officials including ministers.
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 had joined strike action. Many schools and universities have also been shut. Fayyad also called upon donor countries, particularly Arab states, to increase aid to the Palestinian Authority. It was unclear whether the measures would prove sufficient to quell the protests.
The immediate cause of the protests is anger over the rising cost of living. Petrol prices recently rose by 5%, to more than $2 (£1.25) a litre, following similar increases in Israel, which supplies fuel to the West Bank. The cost of basic foods has also gone up. Hundreds of protesters took part in a peaceful demonstration in Ramallah on Tuesday evening after the announcement of the emergency package.
Meanwhile the Palestinian Authority (PA) has announced it is unable to pay salaries that are 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. On Monday, several thousand protesters threw stones and rocks at a police station and municipal offices in volatile city of Hebron. Dozens of police officers and protesters were injured in clashes, during which tear gas was fired.
Initially the protests were welcomed by the 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. 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. Many schools and universities have also been shut.
However, protesters have also begun calling for Abbas to go and attacking corruption within the PA, indicating 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. The immediate cause of the protests is anger over the rising cost of living. Petrol prices recently rose by 5 per cent, to more than $2 per litre, following similar increases in Israel, which supplies fuel to the West Bank. The cost of basic foods has also gone up.
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." Taxi drivers in Ramallah said the price cut announced by Fayyad, which would take the cost of fuel back to its August level, was not enough to stop strikes planned for the coming days.
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. Fayyad announced that the PA would pay its 153,000 employees half their August salaries immediately and would strive to pay the outstanding amounts within a week. The PA has been unable to pay full salaries since June because of shortfalls in aid donations. 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.
A demonstration called for Tuesday evening by Palestinians for Dignity, a youth organisation, will demand 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." Initially the protests were welcomed by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who described them as the "Palestinian Spring". Fayyad, an independent politician, is disliked by both main political factions, Fatah and Hamas, and is frequently accused of being too compliant with Israel and the West. Calls for Fayyad to resign have been widespread during recent days.
Abbas this week formally requested a review of the Paris protocol. However, some protesters have also called for Abbas to go and attacked corruption within the PA, indicating the potential for the protests to spin beyond the control of the dominant faction, Fatah.
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." 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. "This is a war against our total loss of political horizon. People are going back to struggle, non-violent struggle, and will eventually turn against Israel."
Some protesters have demanded the scrapping of a 1994 economic agreement signed between Israel and the Palestinians, known as the Paris Protocol. It gave Israel control over the Palestinians' external trade and the collection of customs duties on behalf of the PA, and pegged VAT and prices in the Palestinian territories to Israeli rates. Critics say it has led to prices in the West Bank being similar to those in Israel, while wages are around a third.
Palestinian economist Sam Bahour said blame for the current economic crisis in the West Bank belonged to "the Paris Protocol and Israel's occupation. The issue is the framework of occupation that is causing economic hardship, not a tax increase here or a tax increase there."