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Are Increased Palestinian Riots a Sign of a New ‘Intifada’ Before Obama’s Visit to Israel?

Feb. 24, 2013 7:54am Sharona Schwartz

Are Increased Palestinian Riots the Sign of a New ‘Intifada’ Before Obama Visit to Israel

A masked Palestinian throws back a gas canister previously shot by Israeli soldiers during a protest outside Ofer Prison near Ramallah in support of Palestinian prisoners last Tuesday (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Thousands of Palestinians have taken to the streets of the West Bank and Jerusalem over the past week, positioning themselves opposite Israeli Defense Forces troops to protest the continued incarceration of Palestinian security prisoners sitting in Israeli jail.

The escalation in protests – some of which have turned violent – has some experts asking if the governing Palestinian Authority is encouraging its youths to launch a new uprising, or intifada, against Israel.

On Thursday, a Times of Israel article had this in its headline: “Israeli experts see a guiding hand behind the escalating West Bank demonstrations; Prisoner protests mark PA effort to start a ‘popular intifada.’”

Veteran Palestinian-affairs analyst Khaled Abu Toameh believes the riots are being orchestrated by Palestinian officials with the aim of gaining President Barack Obama’s attention. He writes:

There are many signs that the Palestinian Authority is seeking to escalate tensions in the West Bank ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to the region next month.

Although the Palestinian Authority probably does not want an all-out confrontation between Palestinians and Israelis at this stage, some Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah believe that a “mini-intifada” would serve the Palestinians’ interests, especially on the eve of Obama’s visit.

The officials hope that scenes of daily clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians in the West Bank will prompt Obama to exert pressure on the Israeli government to make far-reaching concessions to the Palestinian Authority.

This is why the Palestinian Authority leadership has been encouraging its constituents lately to wage a “popular intifada” against Israel, each time finding another excuse to initiate confrontations between Palestinians and Israel.

Now the Palestinian Authority is using the issue of Palestinian prisoners who are on hunger strike in Israeli prisons as an excuse to call for street protests and clashes with the Israel Defense Forces.

Four Palestinian prisoners are staging a long-term hunger strike, while 3,000 other prisoners began a one-day hunger strike Sunday to protest the death of inmate Arafat Shalish Shahin Jaradat who died in Israel’s Meggido Prison on Saturday of a heart attack, according to an Israel Prison Services spokeswoman. He was not one of those taking part in the earlier hunger strike.

The prisoner who has been on hunger strike the longest, Samer Issawi, was released early from prison in 2011 as part of Israel’s deal with Hamas to release kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Issawi was serving a 26-year sentence for various violent crimes including firing an AK-47 at an Israeli bus, firing at an Israeli car and making pipe bombs that were subsequently used in terrorist attacks. He was re-arrested for violating the terms of his release and has not eaten for more than 200 days.

Evidence of the Palestinian Authority’s guiding hand in the unrest includes the participation in a demonstration on Wednesday by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Additionally, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas praised both the protests and Issawi’s hunger strike. Abbas called it “an honorable example of our people’s struggle for freedom and independence.”

Fueling the flames, more clashes were reported on Saturday when Jewish settlers shot two Palestinians in the northern West Bank village of Kusra, according to the Associated Press, quoting Israeli officials and Palestinian residents.

The AP reports that a 24-year-old and a 14-year-old were wounded by the gunfire. The Palestinians and Israelis provided conflicting descriptions about who started the incident, with each side blaming the other. Here is some of the clashes in Kusra from the Tazpit News Agency:

On Friday, hundreds of Palestinians threw rocks at soldiers in various parts of the West Bank including in the volatile city of Hebron, where soldiers responded with tear gas.

In Jerusalem, dozens of Palestinians threw rocks after Friday prayers on the Temple Mount – known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif or Noble Sanctuary. Police responded with stun grenades, according to the AP.

Non-governmental organizations say there are more than 4,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails. The Palestinian Authority dedicates six percent of its budget to paying salaries to terrorists serving time in Israeli jails as well as providing financial support for families of suicide bombers.

In 2011, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad who took part in one of the demonstrations tripled the monthly pay for the inmates.

Kadoura Fares who runs the Palestinian Prisoners Club, an NGO, tells The Times of Israel he doesn’t believe the Palestinians want a third intifada, but that the violence could spin out of control.

“Sometimes the fire starts out small and expands to a large inferno,” he said, adding “If one of the prisoners dies, spirits will flare, Israeli soldiers will shoot at demonstrators, and things will get out of hand.”

This report from Iran’s PressTV provides the Palestinian perspective. Note that the reporter twice compares the recent escalation to the first two intifadas or uprisings against Israel:

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Comments (57)

Karliner
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 11:47am
“The plight of Palestinians?” I stop right there. Dagumed leftist commie arab-nazi lovers

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- SendTheMeteors
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 1:29pm
  Maybe it’s the beginning of the caliphate.
  
  Report this comment
- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 1:37pm
  Tell em what you really think :)
  
  Report this comment
- tonypro
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 2:02pm
  The best way to end these palestinian attacks would be for Israel to just wipe em out, and be done with it.
  
  Report this comment
- XCitizen
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 4:38pm
  Absolutely
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:22pm
  Egypt and Iran, long time ideologically and theologically distant, are now close allies. Both have saber rattled, and drawn swords in the direction of Israel. Both fund terrorist groups to indirectly attack common enemies.
  
  A common cause is the nearest distance between two unseeming partners.
  
  Report this comment
Tigress1
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 11:47am
The Palestinians will shoot some rockets into Israel, the Israelis will retaliate, then it will be quiet for a while. SOS.

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- tonypro
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 12:38pm
  Yeppee, SOS, but maybe, just maybe, they’ll keep barry over their to rule his muslim buddies, or maybe, just maybe, barry will get hit with a drone while he’s there.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil Mom
  Posted on February 25, 2013 at 2:42am
  @tonypro
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 12:38pm
  
  Yeppee, SOS, but maybe, just maybe, they’ll keep barry over their to rule his muslim buddies, or maybe, just maybe, barry will get hit with a drone while he’s there.
  ***
  More likely Scenario: Things nearly escalate into all out war, Maybe/maybe not hundreds killed, president obama in region demands all come into immediate peace talks. All eyes are on the nobel prize winning peace negotiator. He demands they not go home and he will stay until they reach a settlement. He retires to bed while they negotiate through the night and inform him by morning (10:00 a. m.) they’ve hammered out the basis for an agreement. He pulls a world wide press conference on al jazeera, where he announces he’s brought peace! Millions fall down and worship the new peace maker hailing him as though the christ… ****(Any of this sound scriptural yet?)****
  
  Report this comment
willbedone
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 11:34am
I don’t know what the immediate future holds, I do know who holds it. I believe what he said about not being fazed at the wars and rumors of wars, about Jerusalem being divided, etc. It is all coming to pass before our very eyes. It is all being played out like a scripted scene in a real life stage play.

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cdn1979
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 11:08am
are they protesting? really? how dare they? what kind of nation would do such a stupid thing as let people assemble and protest. Israel will have none of that. Not only will they block that silly “right” in their own country, they will do it on stolen land in Palestine as well. The right to assemble and protest. good grief. what sane country or political system on earth would allow something like that. what kind of person thinks thats normal.

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 11:46am
  What kind of country would turn the other cheek as rockets reign down onto it’s civilian’s? What kind of sandrat would strap bomb’s onto it’s children and send them to kill civilians?
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 11:57am
  You call throwing rocks and rioting a form of protest? There are peaceful protests all the time in Israel but when tear gas and stun grenades are needed to disperse violent crowds, that’s no longer a protest. Perhaps you had better read up on what happened in the last two intifadas. The first one saw Palestinians slaughtering each other over the mere accusation of “collaboration” and both saw civilians on both sides being massacred by terrorists.
  
  What the PA is doing is nothing short of igniting the entire country with violent uprisings that will surely lead to the deaths of thousands. But of course, they would all die for the noble cause of “protesting” so it’s all good, right?
  
  Report this comment
wilbstal
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 11:07am
They wont do anything Obama is their leader and God all are Muslim Brotherhood jerk offs

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Listen_then_think
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 11:07am
Perfect time to have a missle training “accident” now that the palestinian terrorist breeders are grouped up in one place.

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PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 11:05am
The U.S.”Corporation” is funding the radical LEFT in Israel.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/caroline-glick/us-government-funds-radical-israeli-ngos/

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GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 10:48am
Ahhhhhhhhhh….the smell of the Spring!!!…..it’s time for Bathhouse Barry to have a firsthand experience with the Arab Spring…

Meanwhile, Iran is full speed enriching Uranium…..

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term limits for congress
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 10:40am
I have $5 that says barry won’t go.

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- civilwarcometh
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 11:41am
  He is only going so he can bash Israel on their own soil. This is to make us more divided with Israel and to boast the rage of the MB.. Israel should tell obama to go pound sand…
  
  Report this comment
PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 10:40am
From 1949 – 1967 Jordan and Egypt OCCUPIED Israeli land. What is called “67 boarder” is a Green Line=Armistice Line to stop the fighting. In 1967 Israel WON the 6 day war and captured Sinai and the Golan Heights and it was a DEFENSIVE Conquest.

If anyone is interested in the LEAGAL Case for Israel and the truth there is a video by Eugene Kontorovich, a Northwestern Law Professor showing that in fact, it was Jordan which illegally occupied the West Bank prior to 1967. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub2x5UvjUs4

also:
http://www.frontpagemag.com/david-horowitz/why-israel-is-the-victim
http://www.eldersofziyon.blogspot.com/2012/02/eugene-kontorovichs-talk-at-nyu-at.html

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RaydocX
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 10:19am
New intifada?
There has not been an end to the prior.
Israel exists in a perpetual sate of war and not at ther choosing.
Don’t be surprised when security concerns lead to the president detouring to a safer pa,Nike Egypt. Oh wat… Not many safe plaes left in the Middle East, and we aren’t in those places… Sort of ontradicts the common Left myth that terrorists will stop when we stop ‘interfering’ in other counties affairs…

They hate us in Syria for being hands off, they attacked us in Libya for being surreptitiously Hanson, and in egypt for providing support…

It won’t stop the terrorists, but it’s a god case for pulling interests not dedicated to protecting our allies and focusing on protecting our borders

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hannah
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:58am
I dont believe BO is going to Israel for anything good, he knows he’s stirring the **** pot by being anywhere around that area. I wish BB would tell him to stay home because he will never agree with Israel.

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freenj
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:57am
Perhaps an errant Palestinian rocket will hit a zero.

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SamIamTwo
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:52am
Perhaps the sequester will not allow his flight crew to refuel, eh? Come on military folks you know you can ground that big puppy by playing the game.

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banjarmon
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:46am
I hope the Palestinians make bho a martyr!!! One can pray!!

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Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:45am
Do we send these people so much money that they can just become full time rioters as an occupation?
Occupation: Rioter/Terrorist
Skills: Blowing up stuff,Molotov Cocktail assembly,strapping dynamite to women and children,and Rock throwing
Hours willing to work?: Anytime except prayer time.Especially available for Jewish Holidays.
Rate of Pay: 72 virgins and what ever America gives us.
Marital Status: Wife Exploded Last Week.Currently courting a ten year old.
Transportation: Bus..If I do not plan to blow it up.

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BlackCrow
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:42am
Instead of tear gas and rubber bullets use live ammunition. Send them to Allah. Myself, I have rounds lubed with bacon grease! Send them to HE LL!

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JoeSix-Pack
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:25am
Makes sense. At least they are consistent. Consistently at war that is. And Israel is the ‘warmonger’?

Don’t forget about how the U.S. was responsible for 9/11/01. After all, we had it coming. I remember the cheering. Actions do speak louder than words.

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Fubared
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:24am
Jihad jerk supports Intifada con carne.

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- The-Monk
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:40am
  Hi Fubared,
  
  Did you see upadastra’s avatar? Another Jerk…..
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 10:00am
  MONK: Just another little anarchist raised by parents who would not have qualified had licenses been required to reproduce.
  
  Report this comment
battles
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:19am
I don’t know what their problem is. Surly they should know that Marxist Obama will only heap praises upon the Palestinians and condemn Israel.

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- tonypro
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 2:00pm
  What a sad truth.
  
  Report this comment
lynnissmart
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:02am
This was probably set-up by the pos admin. so that they can tell Israel to go back to 67 borders and/or blame Israel for not having talks with animals!

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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:19am
  I like my Palestinian burnt,a little salt and pepper.
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 12:12pm
  Would you like to supersize that?
  
  Report this comment
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 6:51pm
  Yes super duper size,I want all jihidas in my order.
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 8:47am
They’re just excited that brother Barrack will be paying a visit and their primitive brains are making them do what comes natural.

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- G-WHIZ
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:03am
  Their just showin’ Him-the-KING-of US.A. all those nice new weppons from Fast&Furious.
  
  Report this comment
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 8:34am
Yes indeed.

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upadastra
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 8:20am
Why do they have the time to riot instead of having to work? Because Europe and America send them money without asking it to be invested into something constructive. Since the imprisoned terrorists family’s get well paid by the PA their sons do not have to work for a living but can afford to loiter and riot much like the OW crowd.
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gyro
Posted on February 24, 2013 at 8:15am
Teach your children Hate and give them a rock

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- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 9:26am
  and an explosive vest to wear
  
  Report this comment
- UNALIEN
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 10:11am
  They don’t want peace,,
  
  When a society teaches its mothers to hate Israel more than they love their children
  
  islam is a cult,, controlled by Islamo Fascists
  
  Report this comment
- FOREIGNANDDOMESTIC
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 12:38pm
  @UNALIEN
  It’s more complicated than that. In his unholy Qur’an, M-mad tells women 99% of them are going to hell for sure. He doesn’t give men any assurance of Paradise either, except if they blow themselves up. But wait… If a young man becomes a suicide bomber then not only will *he* head straight to Paradise, but his whole family is given a ticket to Allah’s orgy house. So you see, it’s a package offer a Muslim mother can’t afford to refuse.
  
  Report this comment

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