[WCUSP] Annapolis Backlash Leaves a Bloody Trail

[KATHARLOW at aol.com]

(Annapolis meeting as seen from the Occupied West Bank)


_http://www.miftah.org/PrinterF.cfm?DocId=15456_ 
(http://www.miftah.org/PrinterF.cfm?DocId=15456) 


    
Annapolis Backlash Leaves a Bloody  Trail 
By Joharah Baker for  MIFTAH 
November 28, 2007 



Enough has been said about the preparations, the expectations and the  
ultimate execution of the Middle East Summit in Annapolis. Needless to  say, the 
outcome was disappointingly what we all expected – more of the  same. More 
promises, “joint statements”, lots of sugary words, but no  concrete results. The 
joint statement made by US President George Bush  read, “We agree to engage in 
vigorous, ongoing and continuous  negotiations, and shall make every effort to 
conclude an agreement before  the end of 2008.” 
Perhaps knowing the long anticipated conference would produce nothing  more 
than these watery statements was what ignited such violence in the  West Bank. 
With President Mahmoud Abbas standing side by side with Israeli  Prime 
Minister Ehud Olmert in Annapolis, the government knew discontent  among the masses 
was inevitable. That is probably why the West Bank  Fateh-affiliated government 
banned all demonstrations – regardless of  whether they were anti or pro 
Annapolis – from taking place on the day of  the conference. Never mind that this 
is in flagrant violation of the  Palestinians’ own Basic Law and all other 
international laws the  Palestinians are a signatory of. 
Anyway, the order did not bear much weight with those who were  determined to 
make their voices heard. Marches and demonstrations flooded  the streets of 
the West Bank, namely in Ramallah and Hebron, people  chanting anti-Annapolis 
slogans and also demanding that no national  compromises be made in their name. 
What happened next was nothing short of deplorable. With tensions  running 
high and a beefed up security presence, clashes between the  security forces and 
demonstrators quickly ensued. Still, the live pictures  broadcast across 
television screens everywhere were shocking even to the  most unfazed observer. 
Palestinian security forces were seen beating back  demonstrators with 
billy-clubs, shooting into the crowd and chasing down  demonstrators in a fashion 
eerily similar to the methods of the Israeli  army. In Ramallah, the world saw Al 
Jazeera journalist Nael Shiyoukhi  writhing in pain after being bludgeoned with 
a club on his left arm by  security forces trying to stop him from covering 
the events. Journalists  were pushed back and ordered to leave the premises and 
in Hebron, one  demonstrator was reportedly killed by security forces after 
being shot in  the heart. Hebron police say the man, Hisham Barathiya, was 
killed by a  bullet from an “unknown source.” 
In all, 50-some people were injured in the chaos and fierce accusations  have 
been flying ever since. The government claims the demonstrations were  “
illegal” and the demonstrators initiated the skirmishes while  demonstrators and 
political factions involved in the demonstrations claim  otherwise, saying the 
police crackdown was an oppressive and brutal method  of silencing opposition 
voices. 
Whichever way one looks at yesterday’s events, one thing remains  
disturbingly clear. These are the makings of an extremely oppressive  regime, one which 
does not allow freedom of expression, free thought or a  free media. This is a 
government that claims to be striving towards  democracy and political 
pluralism, not dictatorship. If this is the way  the government plans to deal with 
political differences in the future, it  will not have much of a leg to stand on 
for much longer. 
This is especially true now with the Annapolis hoopla over and done  with. 
The Palestinians are now looking forward to more “bilateral talks”  and a vague 
commitment to “make every effort” to come to a final agreement  by the end 
of 2008. If the Abbas government drags this out for too long  while cracking 
down on anyone who opposes their political line, they are  more likely than not 
to fall. 
Right now, with all the candy-coated words about freedom, independence  and a 
Palestinian state, the government needs all the popular support it  can get 
to back it on this uncertain journey of negotiating with a less  than malleable 
partner. So far, the same points that have been major bones  of contention 
between the Palestinians and Israelis are still as sticky as  ever. Israel 
remains adamant not to accept the right of return for  Palestinian refugees while 
the Palestinians refuse to relinquish it. While  the parties promised to meet 
every two weeks to discuss final status  issues, it is highly unlikely an issue 
as emotionally charged as Jerusalem  will be resolved in the coming year, 
especially given that Israel rejects  on principle the idea of a divided 
Jerusalem not completely under Israeli  sovereignty. 
So that leaves the masses, once again. Any leader, Palestinian or  otherwise, 
needs popular support in order to keep, not only their seats,  but their 
people’s respect. This goes for any party or faction with their  eye on the 
Palestinian leadership, Hamas included. After their takeover of  the Gaza Strip and 
the killing of seven Fateh supporters earlier this  month, Hamas’ stronghold 
in Gaza seems to be gradually waning. Shedding  the blood of your own has 
always been and will remain to be a red line no  leader should cross. 
This is applicable to the West Bank government as well. With the  uncertainty 
of what the Annapolis conference will bring, this government  is treading on 
unsteady ground already. Playing its cards right from here  until the 
negotiations hopefully reap positive results, is its best shot  at keeping afloat. The 
unnecessary and excessive use of force yesterday in  Hebron and Ramallah is 
hardly a step in the right direction and has  already stirred up angry voices, 
first and foremost Palestinian  journalists. Even if certain parties 
instigated the riots – the police is  pointing their finger at the Islamist Liberation 
Party – the fact remains  that the government is expected to be the more 
responsible factor in the  equation. 
In short, the Abbas government does not need any black marks on its  record 
right now, especially those made indelible by the blood of their  own people. 
The Palestinians need to be a united front, at least regarding  any future 
negotiations with Israel because years of experience has taught  us that this is 
by far the hardest battle we will ever fight. We cannot  afford to be clawing 
at each other’s throats in the process. 
Joharah Baker is a Writer for the Media and Information  Programme at the 
Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global  Dialogue and Democracy 
(MIFTAH). She can be contacted at _mip at miftah.org_ (mailto:mip at miftah.org) . 



_http://www.miftah.org_ (http://www.miftah.org/) 




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