Palestinian Authority warns of strong reaction in West Bank, says Jibril Rajoub

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: The Palestinian Authority has warned of a strong reaction in the West Bank in view of growing violence and attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians.

According to Arab TV, Fatah Secretary General Jibril Rajoub said in an interview that it was a volcano that would erupt sooner or later. He stressed that it must be confronted peacefully.

Emphasis on peaceful struggle

He said the terrorism carried out by the army and settlers against people, trees, stones, mosques and churches, under the patronage of the Israeli government, could lead to a strong reaction and an explosive situation. However, he said, adopting a peaceful and non-violent struggle in response had become a necessity and a strategic choice for all Palestinians.

He said bloodshed was no longer an acceptable option, nor should it be part of any national option.

He said the factions had stressed the unity of political representation through the PLO, and one authority, one law and one legal weapon. He explained that it was not right for any Palestinian group to try to impose its own personal agenda on the Palestinian people outside the democratic framework and national institutions.

He stressed that Palestinian goals would be achieved by adopting political and diplomatic confrontation. He pointed to the recent talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, which aim to confront the occupying Israeli administration by non-violent means.

He said Fatah had presented at that meeting a comprehensive vision for national partnership, and a vision for peacefully confronting the occupying administration despite its atrocities.

He said that, in the PLO’s view, any amendment to it or wish to change its political programme must go through the ballot box and participation in PLO institutions according to the rules it has established. According to him, the aim of dialogue with the Palestinian militant organisation is to end the state of division and disarray.

Background

The Palestinian warning came a day after the European Union condemned settler attacks in the West Bank, including attacks on European diplomats.

Attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank have risen in recent months. They include the seizure of olive groves and attacks on farmers during the harvest season.

Apart from East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since 1967, about 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank. More than 500,000 Israelis also live there in settlements considered illegal under international law.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in acts of violence in the West Bank since Israel’s war in Gaza.