JERUSALEM — The Palestinians’ call for a “Day of Anger” yesterday kept the Israeli military and settlers on alert all week.
Yehudit Tayar, spokeswoman for the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, declared that “the continuous call by Palestinian leaders for violence and protest directed against the men, women and children” in the West Bank and Gaza “is unacceptable and dangerous.”
The protests are in response to the outgoing Israeli government’s decision to expand the West Bank settlement Ma’aleh Adumim to the borders of Jerusalem, as well as other settlement activity.
Settlers also expressed surprise that government officials refrained from commenting on the fact that newly elected Knesset member Ahmed Tibi spoke at the Ramallah gathering on Sunday where the protest day was declared.
“With their incitement they are arming the next terrorists to kill innocent people,” charged Tayar, adding that “a somber, responsible leadership calls for diplomatic negotiations and not violence.”
On the other end of the spectrum, leading Hamas figures on Tuesday raised questions about the Palestinian Authority’s plans for a “Day of Anger,” saying the demonstrations are unlikely to have much practical impact.
“Even if we show our anger, would this dismantle the settlements? To be serious about this, we need a detailed plan with serious steps, not a demonstration. It’s not enough,” said Abu Shanab, a Hamas leader in Gaza City.
He called for a meeting of all Palestinian factions to work out such a plan. He added, however, that Hamas believes that individuals should decide by themselves whether or not to participate in the protests.
The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Information placed advertisements in newspapers this week calling on residents of villages “facing the threat of settlements” to join in the day of protests.
In an apparent bid to redress the combative statements emanating from Palestinian Authority leaders on Sunday and Monday, the advertisements pointedly called on the public to “preserve the peaceful nature” of the protests.
Salah Tamari, head of the Palestinian Legislative Council’s land and settlements committee, said the Palestinians’ intentions are good.
“There will be strictly peaceful demonstrations in every district in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,” he said. “If the Israeli army chooses to shoot then that is a different story. But from our side, the demonstrations will be strictly peaceful and non-violent.”
Qais Abdel-Karim, a leader of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, predicted violence.
“It is intended to be peaceful, but you never know what happens after the march ends,” he said, referring to past demonstrations in which youths headed to areas where soldiers were positioned and confronted them.
Meanwhile, reports that Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak intends to reach a compromise on settlement activity received a mixed response from Israelis.
The compromise would legalize all construction carried out in settlements before December when the new elections were announced. Any activity after that would have to be reviewed, but Barak would permit construction in communities according to natural growth needs.
Aharon Domb, director-general of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, said Barak’s formula was unacceptable. But Tayar said there was time to wait and see.
Peace Now spokeswoman Hagit Ya’ari expressed concern because about 7,000 housing units were currently under construction and more units were in planning stages.
From the Palestinian viewpoint, all settlement growth must halt.
“We know Barak needs time [to establish himself], but we are running out of time,” Tamari said. “The settlements have reached the borders of our cities and are strangling them.”