Despair Fuels West Bank Protests
The Palestinian protests in the West Bank reflect the desperate social and economic conditions there, writes Ahmad Azem.
It has become a common scene: a group of young people speak face to face or on the phone, coordinating a trip to the area surrounding Ofer prison (near Ramallah) or a demonstration at a checkpoint to confront Israeli soldiers. Videos appear online and are shared on social-networking sites, showing youths hiding from Israeli army vehicles in villages or camps and then showering them with stones or anything they can get their hands on. The soldiers then flee the area.
These videos often have titles such as "See how children from the camp humiliate Zionist soldiers." The fact of the matter is that these confrontations, as well as the ages of the participants, reflect the end of the economic, social and geographic equation that formed the basis of the calm security situation that prevailed in the West Bank for many years. A new equation is now in play.
A new economy for confrontation
Many months ago, Israel stopped the transfer of tax revenues owed to the Palestinians according to the peace agreements. This step was intended to pressure the Palestinians after they failed to move forward with negotiations, which they considered absurd, a mere political cover for settlements and the confiscation of Palestinian lands and punishment for Palestine going to the United Nations. Similarly, for the past two years, the US has halted aid for the same reasons. Furthermore, for reasons not entirely clear, Arab countries have not adhered to scheduled aid payments, which serve as a safety net in the face of US and Israeli sanctions.
