Palestinians are angry - Eruption may take place after Friday's prayer
Palestine, Politics, 9/18/1997

Palestinian officials strongly condemned the latest compromise reached between the Israeli government and the Jewish settlers who took over Arab houses in Ras Al Amoud neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. Dr. Ahmad Tibi, special advisor to PNA president Yasser Arafat said the compromise and the Israeli policy in general have stripped the PNA from every power it has to control the situation among Palestinians who are angry not only at the lack of progress in the peace process but also at the continued settlement policy of the Israeli government.

According to various sources, the deal reached between the settlers and the Israeli government leaves room for some ten Jewish seminary students to stay behind in the houses in return for the settlers leaving the site until further notice. The agreement also said that the settlers would be allowed back to the houses after the government examines the security aspects of such a return. But the bottom line is the houses are to remain under Israeli control and that is exactly the sort of a compromise that not a single Palestinian is ready to accept.

"I do not see any Palestinian official who would be ready to accept such a deal," said Tibi. Asked if he expected protest actions to break out by Palestinians after the Friday prayer, Tibi said that the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in person have carried out a series of provocations that have eroded the PNA ability to control the angry masses. "The role of the PNA from the beginning was to achieve dreams and aspirations of the Palestinian people and not to try and cool them down when Israeli provocations are too irritating to tolerate."

Previous Stories:
  Netanyahu now convinced settlers should leave.   (9/18/1997)

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