TROUBLE ON THE WEST BANK

  • Share
  • Read Later
Clashes between Israeli soldiers and and Palestinians just a week before the Israeli army is to pull out of the West Bank town of Nablus have put a crucial phase of the Israel-PLO autonomy agreement in doubt. Thursday, troops fired tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades at the Fatah Hawks after Ahmed Tabouk, head of the Palestinian gang, led armed followers through the town firing hundreds of bullets into the air and hurling stones at passing Israeli military vehicles. TIME's Jamil Hamad reports from the West Bank: "These protests will continue because it is no longer a minority of Palestinians who oppose the peace agreement. It is important to understand that the Palestinians are angry at Arafat and the Palestinian Authority, as well as at the Israelis. Many feel the Palestinian Authority is moving too slowly in improving the economic conditions for the majority of Palestinians. They do not see much improvement in their day-to-day lives. My feeling, however, is that unless a major catastrophe happens, like a mass killing of some kind, the peace implementation plan will go ahead. The protesters are frustrated and angry, but they are too disorganized to undermine the implementation."