Fayyad: Peace deal failures play into Egypt unrest

PA prime minister says protesters' complaints stem from "a frustration because of failure to solve Palestinian problem."

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Salam Fayyad with kaffiyeh kafiyeh 311 AP (photo credit: AP)
Salam Fayyad with kaffiyeh kafiyeh 311 AP
(photo credit: AP)
The failure of the Middle East peace process is behind the unrest in a number of Arab countries, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad was quoted on Thursday as saying.
Fayyad, who is visiting France, said the recent uprisings in the Arab world can be attributed to both the domestic situation in those countries and the feeling of “frustration and desperation” because of the failure of efforts to solve the Palestinian issue.
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The PA in the West Bank does not feel threatened by demands of democracy and reforms in the Arab world, Fayyad said, adding that his plan to build state institutions was based on the principles of democracy, freedom and social justice.
Fayyad’s statements came as the PA announced a ban on demonstrations in the West Bank in support of the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
Gen. Adnan Dmairi, spokesman for the PA security forces in the West Bank, said that the PA decided to ban all “illegal and unlicensed gatherings that could create a state of chaos.”
The decision to ban the demonstrations was taken after several hundred Palestinians staged a protest against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Ramallah on Wednesday night. PA policemen intervened to disperse the protesters and detained two journalists.
The anti-Mubarak protest took place only hours after the PA organized a demonstration in support of Mubarak in Ramallah. Sources in the city said that the pro-Mubarak demonstration was initiated by the office of PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
In the Gaza Strip, hundreds of Palestinians marched in the streets in protest against Mubarak and in solidarity with the Egyptian uprising.
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt