Palestinians call for ‘Day of Rage’ against Israel

Groups call for demonstrators to step up protests against Israel in West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza; Islamic Jihad says time has come for "popular revolution."

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Youth holds stone as Palestinians clash with IDF in the West Bank (photo credit: REUTERS)
Youth holds stone as Palestinians clash with IDF in the West Bank
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian groups once again called for a “Day of Rage” against Israel in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem on Friday and urged demonstrators to step up their protests.
The appeal came as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas warned that failure to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would increase the flames in the region.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad issued separate statements on Thursday calling on Palestinians to take to the streets following Friday prayers “in solidarity with al-Aksa Mosque.”
Hamas called on all Palestinians, especially youths, to “move to save the Aksa Mosque and defend Jerusalem against the Israeli siege imposed on the city.” Friday should be turned into a “special day in the history of the Palestinian struggle to preserve our rights in Jerusalem,” it said. The movement also called on Palestinians to clash with soldiers and settlers in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The Islamic Jihad organization also urged Palestinians to take to the streets on Friday to voice solidarity with the Aksa Mosque.
The time has come for a “popular revolution” against Israeli measures in Jerusalem, the group’s representative, Muhammad al-Harazeen, said, claiming Israel was seeking to alter the city’s Arab and Islamic identity.
Islamic Jihad leader Khaled al-Batsh said Israel was working toward “evicting” Palestinians from the Aksa Mosque. Batsh praised the recent terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, saying they reflected the outrage of Palestinians toward Israeli measures in the city and on the Temple Mount.
Speaking ahead of the 10th anniversary of PLO chairman Yasser Arafat’s death next Tuesday, Abbas said the PA leadership would not compromise on the rights of the Palestinians.
Abbas said he was convinced there would be no peace unless the Palestinians achieve an independent state.
He said he was determined to proceed with his plan to ask the UN Security Council to call for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines, including from east Jerusalem.