Mahmoud Abbas' Absence Is Noticed In Gaza Crisis

Mahmoud Abbas has been praised by the international community for maintaining order in the West Bank. But for Palestinians there, he has neither been able to stop Israeli settlements nor bring Palestinians closer to independence, writes Lena Odgaard.
Palestinian protesters throw stones towards Israeli security forces during clashes against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip, at Qalandiya checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah November 19, 2012. Israel bombed dozens of targets in Gaza on Monday and said that while it was prepared to step up its offensive by sending in troops, it preferred a diplomatic solution that would end Palestinian rocket fire from the enclave. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)
Palestinian protesters throw stones toward Israeli security forces during clashes against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip, at Qalandiya checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Nov. 19, 2012. - REUTERS/Ammar Awad

RAMALLAH — "GAZA, GAZA, GAZA" rung chants of a demonstration in Ramallah Saturday afternoon: "Out with Israel — Freedom for Palestine."

About 300 Palestinians marched through the streets of Ramallah to show sympathy for their fellow country men in Gaza. Since then sizes of demonstrations have grown with eye witnesses reporting of 500 in Ramallah Monday after all government employees went on strike in solidarity with Gaza. Demonstrations have been carried out throughout the West Bank in both cities and at checkpoints, where Israeli soldiers responded by shooting not only tear gas and rubber coated bullets but also used live ammunition, killing two young men.

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