Ramallah: As the protests continue in Egypt close on the heels of the regime change effected by the Tunisians, there is hope in the air for residents of occupied Jerusalem who believe they will no longer be left to fend for themselves against the might of their Israeli oppressors.

“We are very optimistic about these promising developments in the region. With the people rising up, we could get more support, making the Israelis think twice from now on before any possible aggression against us,” said an official in occupied Jerusalem.

Fakhri Abu Diab, a political activist and member of the Silwan Defence Committee, told Gulf News the protest movements of the Tunisian and Egyptian peoples has turned regional power equations upside down.

“The Arab nations have been dominated and suppressed by their regimes for decades but this fear barrier has been broken and even the leaders who remain will modify their policies as per the will of their people,” Abu Diab said.

“Israel did not give any weight to (occupied) Jerusalem’s residents who never had real support from the Arab world, but now Israel is being forced to make fresh calculations because of the on-going fundamental changes in the region,” he said.

Abu Diab added the initial message that (occupied) Jerusalem residents were getting from the protestors in Egypt was extremely promising, leading them to believe the situation in their city would surely change.

“Fear will develop in Israel about public protests following the Tunisian and Egyptian examples. The Israelis would not be able to handle all (occupied) Jerusalem residents if they rose against the occupier,” he said.

Abu Diab felt the US and Israel were losing their grip on the Middle East as unpopular leaderships were being challenged.

“Fundamental changes will shortly be witnessed on the ground in Jerusalem, where the Israelis will definitely give some concessions, and we might reach compromises with them,” he said.

“It is beyond doubt that the Arab nations have ended up as a real force that is being taken serious consideration of by regional and international players.”

He said the Arab peoples have made themselves heard on the streets and their satisfaction has now become top priority for their regimes. Those regimes which go against public opinion will face the same fate as Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak and deposed Tunisian strongman Ben Ali.

“Once the Arab nations fix their internal affairs, their next issue and next stop will surely be Jerusalem,” Abu Diab said.

Zeyad Al Hamouri, who heads the occupied Jerusalem Centre for Social and Economic Rights, told Gulf News that what happened in Tunisia and Egypt was a first in the Arab World, which will have serious and far-reaching effects all over the globe.

“This is a revolution aimed at reviving Arab dignity and pride, whose symbol is Jerusalem and the Al Aqsa Mosque,” he said. “We have learnt the lesson that hope cannot be lost in the will and strength of nations.”

The Arab World after January 25, 2011, is completely different, where support for (occupied) Jerusalem and its residents has become guaranteed, Al Hamouri said.

“We have been totally ignored by our Arab brothers for such a long time, but we never realised that they had been suffering just the way we are. They have not given a helping hand to (occupied) Jerusalem residents because they were suppressed by their own regimes,” he said.

Mohammad Saqed, who heads the Jerusalem Media Centre told Gulf News that Jerusalem residents have received assurances from protesters in Egypt and Tunisia that their next issue to be raised would be occupied Jerusalem.

“If the people are free to make their choices, their fundamental issue will be supporting (occupied) Jerusalem and never leaving us all alone in our confrontation with the Israelis,” he said. “This is a major disturbing issue for the Israelis who are currently confused, and busy securing their borders with Egypt. Israeli’s oppressive attacks against (occupied) Jerusalem will surely decrease given current and future circumstances,” Saqed said.

“The Israelis will not undertake large scale incursions into Jerusalem and will not announce major colony-building projects in the holy city knowing that the Arab people are there to support the residents of (occupied) Jerusalem.

“The mere idea of Egyptians considering the liberation of Al Aqsa Mosque is a major hope for Jerusalem and a source of confusion for the Israelis,” he said.