Why Any Hint of a New Palestinian ‘Intifada’ Shouldn’t be Taken Lightly

With the killing of the American ambassador to Libya, and the demonstrations now all over the Middle East, it’s easy to forget one of the long-standing and entrenched issues facing policy makers: Palestinian statehood.

Lately in the West Bank there have been mass protests, general strikes and a great deal of handwringing. Our own Matthew Bell did a story this week about what’s going on.

He didn’t get caught up in any of the real violence, but it’s there. At least 50 people were injured in protests Wednesday. In what the Jerusalem Post calls, “scenes reminiscent of the first Intifada,” protesters blocked roads, burned tires and threw stones at Palestinian policemen and some official buildings.

Many are questioning whether these demonstrations are the beginning of a Palestinian Spring-like move to topple the current government, or whether the people are venting their natural anger over the dismal economy. With high prices, low salaries and dismal unemployment figures, Palestinians have a lot to be angry about.

As far as the Palestinian leadership goes, long-time Palestinian columnist Hani al-Masri lays out a stark choice today in Al Monitor: “Choice For Palestine’s PM: Resignation or Resistance.”

Al-Masri praises the Palestinian Authority and its police for allowing the demonstrations to take place without killing anyone. But that’s faint praise.

Regardless of what is driving the protests, al-Masri writes that what’s clear is the PA has outlived its usefulness. It can neither confront Israel, nor make deals with the United States, and its waffling could lead to something very, very scary.

The PA’s discourse, the shape it is in, the internal tension between Fatah and Hamas, and the economic crisis are making people worried about internationalization and confrontation. They are standing naked without the necessary means for steadfastness and without any weapons while they are facing a comprehensive economic, political and social crisis. The US and Israel are threatening the PA, trying to prevent it from submitting a request for either full UN membership or observer status.

Any hint of “Intifada” shouldn’t be taken lightly.

I moved to Jerusalem in 2002, a little under a year after the Second Intifada kicked off. I rented an apartment relatively close to the city’s downtown. When I asked the landlord for directions, he said, “just tell your taxi driver it’s right near the café and the pizza place that were blown up, you can’t miss it.”

The Moment Café had been attacked about six months prior to my arrival. Eleven people were killed in that attack, 54 wounded. Hamas claimed responsibility.

Later, at a briefing with the Israeli police spokesman, I was shown pictures of the explosion’s aftermath. Bodies were strewn around the room; some of the dead actually remained where they sat, headless, at the bar.

It was, as you can imagine, a gruesome scene.

And more was to follow, on both sides of the line that separates Israel and the Palestinian territories. The cycle of violence led to the deaths of some 5,500 Palestinians and 1,100 Israelis (Jews and Arabs), as well as 64 foreigners.

Local and international politicians need to think long and hard before whipping up anger or “the Arab Street,” as it’s called.

If I may quote Hani al-Masri again: “There is a big difference between freedom of expression, economic struggle and fighting the occupation on the one hand, and chaos on the other. We have experienced and paid the price of chaos and lawlessness many times. There is no need to try it again.”

Follow @worldaaron