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Backlash at Abbas escalates among Palestinians

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' attendance at the funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres has angered the Palestinian public and political factions, increasing the chance of violence in the streets.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) sits alongside European Council President Donald Tusk (L) as they attend the funeral of Shimon Peres, 93, at Mount Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel September 30, 2016.   REUTERS/Stephen Crowley/Pool - RTSQ7FO
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RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ attendance at the funeral of Israeli President Shimon Peres Sept. 30, heading a Palestinian delegation, raised popular anger. This anger escalated after Palestinian security members in civilian clothes, who were participating in a Fatah march in support of Abbas, attacked a youth march (according to the participants) — which was called for on Facebook — in Ramallah's city center on Oct. 4 to express opposition to Abbas' attendance, injuring a number of participants, most notably Muhanad Karaja, a lawyer with human rights organization Al-Dameer.

Karaja told Al-Monitor that a group of youths who wanted to organize a march in Ramallah invited him in his capacity as lawyer of Al-Dameer to document any attacks by security forces.

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