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| Hamas rallies in Fatah-dominated West Bank suggest growing Palestinian unity | Hamas rallies in Fatah-dominated West Bank suggest growing Palestinian unity |
| (4 months later) | |
| Thousands of jubilant Hamas supporters openly raised green flags in the West Bank on Thursday for the first time in more than five years, to celebrate the Islamic organisation's 25th anniversary. | Thousands of jubilant Hamas supporters openly raised green flags in the West Bank on Thursday for the first time in more than five years, to celebrate the Islamic organisation's 25th anniversary. |
| In a sign of Palestinian political leaders' more active support for reconciliation between the two main rival factions, Fatah – the dominant force in the West Bank – permitted Hamas to hold a rally in Nablus and a second in Hebron on Friday. Hamas reciprocated by allowing Fatah supporters to take to the streets in Gaza. | In a sign of Palestinian political leaders' more active support for reconciliation between the two main rival factions, Fatah – the dominant force in the West Bank – permitted Hamas to hold a rally in Nablus and a second in Hebron on Friday. Hamas reciprocated by allowing Fatah supporters to take to the streets in Gaza. |
| Stirring songs played over loudspeakers as several thousand people, including children sporting Hamas headbands and baseball caps, crowded into a square in the city centre. Balconies and roofs overlooking the area were packed with supporters and onlookers. | Stirring songs played over loudspeakers as several thousand people, including children sporting Hamas headbands and baseball caps, crowded into a square in the city centre. Balconies and roofs overlooking the area were packed with supporters and onlookers. |
| Hamas, whose members have been routinely arrested and jailed by Palestinian Authority security forces over the past five years, claims it has seen a boost in support in the West Bank following the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza. It hailed the outcome of the conflict as a victory despite the bombing of offices, training grounds and weapons stores, and the deaths of more than 160 people, during the eight days of fighting. | Hamas, whose members have been routinely arrested and jailed by Palestinian Authority security forces over the past five years, claims it has seen a boost in support in the West Bank following the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza. It hailed the outcome of the conflict as a victory despite the bombing of offices, training grounds and weapons stores, and the deaths of more than 160 people, during the eight days of fighting. |
| "Hamas has raised up the head of the people and brought us back our dignity," said Ahmed, 35, a construction worker. He said he was a Fatah supporter but "on my house there are now two flags", one for each faction. Support for Hamas had "gone up 100%", he added. | "Hamas has raised up the head of the people and brought us back our dignity," said Ahmed, 35, a construction worker. He said he was a Fatah supporter but "on my house there are now two flags", one for each faction. Support for Hamas had "gone up 100%", he added. |
| Nasser, 42, a long-time Hamas supporter who has served time in both Palestinian and Israeli jails, said: "This is the first time in five years that we can raise Hamas flags so I am very happy." The recent conflict had, he said, boosted support for Hamas and "showed the failure of negotiations". | Nasser, 42, a long-time Hamas supporter who has served time in both Palestinian and Israeli jails, said: "This is the first time in five years that we can raise Hamas flags so I am very happy." The recent conflict had, he said, boosted support for Hamas and "showed the failure of negotiations". |
| Both factions have promised to release each other's activists from prison as a practical confidence-building step towards reconciliation. "We hope there will be no more jail, but we doubt it," said Nasser, reflecting scepticism about whether each faction would honour its pledges. | Both factions have promised to release each other's activists from prison as a practical confidence-building step towards reconciliation. "We hope there will be no more jail, but we doubt it," said Nasser, reflecting scepticism about whether each faction would honour its pledges. |
| However, Fatah and Hamas appear to be more responsive to pressure from public opinion in the West Bank and Gaza, and from regional governments such as Egypt and Qatar. Both factions believe they will be strengthened by reconciliation. | However, Fatah and Hamas appear to be more responsive to pressure from public opinion in the West Bank and Gaza, and from regional governments such as Egypt and Qatar. Both factions believe they will be strengthened by reconciliation. |
| Naseraldin al-Shaer, a member of the Palestinian legislative council for the Hamas-affiliated Change and Reform party, said the Nablus rally was a sign of "unity in Palestinian society despite the disagreements and problems". He added: "Without unity, the Palestinians cannot accomplish the end of the occupation." | Naseraldin al-Shaer, a member of the Palestinian legislative council for the Hamas-affiliated Change and Reform party, said the Nablus rally was a sign of "unity in Palestinian society despite the disagreements and problems". He added: "Without unity, the Palestinians cannot accomplish the end of the occupation." |
| The mood was "very high", he said, but he declined to say whether support for Hamas was increasing. "Hamas is here all the time, whether it speaks loudly or quietly," he said. | The mood was "very high", he said, but he declined to say whether support for Hamas was increasing. "Hamas is here all the time, whether it speaks loudly or quietly," he said. |
| In Hebron, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers erupted at the funeral of a teenager who was shot dead at a checkpoint on Wednesday. The Israel defence forces said a female soldier had killed Muhammad Ziad Awad Salaymah, whose 17th birthday it was, after he waved a toy gun. | In Hebron, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers erupted at the funeral of a teenager who was shot dead at a checkpoint on Wednesday. The Israel defence forces said a female soldier had killed Muhammad Ziad Awad Salaymah, whose 17th birthday it was, after he waved a toy gun. |
| Meanwhile, Israel's high court backed a petition brought by Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) against the route of the vast separation barrier in the West Bank, which it said would cause irreparable damage to the ancient agricultural terraces of the village of Battir. | Meanwhile, Israel's high court backed a petition brought by Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) against the route of the vast separation barrier in the West Bank, which it said would cause irreparable damage to the ancient agricultural terraces of the village of Battir. |
| The court gave the Israeli military 90 days to come up with an alternative plan. | The court gave the Israeli military 90 days to come up with an alternative plan. |
| "We are convinced that due to the unique nature of the area under discussion there is a need for the security officials to reconsider," said the high court justices. | "We are convinced that due to the unique nature of the area under discussion there is a need for the security officials to reconsider," said the high court justices. |
| Gidon Bromberg of FoEME said: "The military had failed to bring a single expert in the field of cultural and natural heritage to support their case, yet they constantly claimed that they were striking the right balance between the needs of security and heritage values. We are delighted with the decision of the court." | Gidon Bromberg of FoEME said: "The military had failed to bring a single expert in the field of cultural and natural heritage to support their case, yet they constantly claimed that they were striking the right balance between the needs of security and heritage values. We are delighted with the decision of the court." |
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