Israel Matzav

Fatah preparing third 'intifada'

Haaretz reports that Fatah is preparing a third 'intifada.' But this one is meant to be different from the previous two.

One of the movement's top officials interviewed by Hadith Anas said the third intifada will have a widespread popular base, adding, however, that unlike the previous popular struggle against Israel, which was sparked in September 2000, the movement will not endorse an armed struggle or the use of firearms.

"We want thousands of Palestinians to demonstrate daily near the settlements of the occupation, carrying out a human siege, and calling for the end of the occupation," one senior official said.

According to the report, Fatah chief and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to the resolution in principle, stipulating only that the struggle mustn't become a violent one.

Sources estimate that Abbas could prepare the conditions which would allow for such a move by stepping down as PA President as well as by declaring the dissolution of the PA by the end of the year.

Fatah holds out its first 'intifada' as being a non-violent one, and as being a model for the upcoming 'struggle.'

"The first intifada gained significant diplomatic ground as far as the Palestinians are concerned since its symbol, a boy throwing rocks at a tank, made it impossible for Israel to claim it was defending itself against terror as it did in the second intifada, followings the city-center bombings," the official said.

Funny. I doubt that Dov Kalmanovich (pictured above) would consider the first 'intifada' non-violent or its symbol to be a boy throwing rocks at a tank.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:49 PM