Fatah official calls for ‘non-violent’ and ‘unarmed’ protests

“We call for actual participation in different expressions of anger."

By ADAM RASGON
Palestinians burn signs depicting an Israeli flag and a U.S. flag during a protest against the U.S. intention to move its embassy to Jerusalem and to recognize the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City December 6, 2017. (photo credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/REUTERS)
Palestinians burn signs depicting an Israeli flag and a U.S. flag during a protest against the U.S. intention to move its embassy to Jerusalem and to recognize the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City December 6, 2017.
(photo credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/REUTERS)
Fatah Central Committee Member Nasser al-Qudwa called for participation in “non-violent” and “unarmed” protests against US President Donald Trump’s possible decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Trump is slated to deliver a speech later Wednesday, in which he is said to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. 
“We call for actual participation in different expressions of anger,” Qudwa, a former ambassador to the UN, said. “We call for [these expressions of anger] to be done in a non-violent and unarmed way.”
A number of small scale protests against Trump’s potential recognition of Jerusalem took place around the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
Trump makes announcement about Jerusalem (Reuters)
Israel considers all of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians hope the capital of a future Palestinian state will be in east Jerusalem. According to Palestinian officials, the US recognizing the city as Israel’s capital is equivalent to siding with Israel’s claim to all of Jerusalem.
Fatah Mobilization and Organization Commission spokesman Munir Jaghoub said that additional demonstrations will take place on Thursday and Friday.
Hamas Politburo Chairman Ismail Haniyeh told al-Jazeera on Wednesday that he and PA President Mahmoud Abbas agreed the Palestinian people should take to the streets in protest of Trump’s possible move on Jerusalem.
A number of Palestinian and international leaders have warned of violence breaking out on the Palestinian street and Arab world if Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.