The deliberate provocations by Israeli extremists continuing to desecrate Al Haram Al Sharif is having a dangerous effect by encouraging radical groups across the Arab world to exploit the natural Muslim and Palestinian anger at the desecrations. The Israelis gain great benefit from encouraging this response and will use it as an excuse to persist in their occupation of Palestinian land and refusal to come to peace talks.
For example, in Lebanon this weekend, hundreds of Palestinians joined a protest organised by Islamist parties in Ain Al Helweh refugee camp outside Sidon. The main organisers were groups like Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Usbat Al Ansar, all of which take extremist positions and are in profound opposition to the mainstream Palestinians headed up by Fatah and President Mahmoud Abbas. Fatah has to persist in its commitment to seeking a peaceful solution.
The Israelis understand this all too well. Even after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made a call on Friday to defend the Al Aqsa Mosque against Israel, he looks feeble since he can do nothing to stop the incursions. The Palestinian guards of Al Haram Al Sharif are not able to physically resist the Israeli security forces, who protect the Israeli extremists in their criminal actions. So the Arab extremists are able to gain popularity and this gives the Israelis the excuse not to deal with the Palestinians, and allows them continued space in which they will continue to build in more and more of the occupied West Bank, making the ‘two-state solution’ an increasingly remote dream.
