<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Army Does Not Believe It Can Contain A Widespread Revolution In The West&nbsp;Bank]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p><span class="article-details"><span class="article-detail">Wednesday March 09, 2011 05:03</span><span class="article-detail"> by Saed Bannoura &#8211; IMEMC &amp; Agencies</span></span></p>
<blockquote class="article-intro"><p>In light with the current events and  protests against the ruling regimes in some Arab countries, and the  latest removal of Egyptian and Tunisian presidents, the Israeli Army’s  Central Command in the West Bank have been tightly monitoring what is  happening in the Arab world, and updating its operational plans for an  anticipated nonviolent uprising in the occupied territories.</p></blockquote>
<p class="photo"><a name="attachment36702"></a> <img class="summary-image" title="Click on image to see full-sized version" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.imemc.org/attachments/mar2011/protestbilin.jpg" alt="Nonviolent Protest Against the Wall in Bilin - file bilin-ffj.org" width="437" height="292" /><br />
Nonviolent Protest Against the Wall in Bilin &#8211; file bilin-ffj.org</p>
<p class="article">Although  plans to deal with massive protests in the West Bank are already there,  the army started adjusting these plans following the revolutions in  Egypt and Tunisia, Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported.</p>
<p>Haaretz, one of the largest news outlets in Israel, stated that former  and current Israeli army commanders in the occupied West Bank believe  that Israel cannot effectively deal with widespread nonviolent protests,  similar to the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.</p>
<p>Yet, the commanders also believe that “the chances for a totally  nonviolent revolution in the occupied territories are low”, and that  “certain elements will use the situation to attack the Israeli army”.</p>
<p>Yet, Palestinians, supported by Israeli and International peace  activist, who are leading massive protests against the Annexation Wall  and settlement, are involved in peaceful protests and are determined to  continue the peaceful and popular approach despite being subject to  excessive use of force by the army.</p>
<p>According to Haaretz, an army officer said that even before protests  took place in Tunisia and Egypt, Israel anticipated such events, and  presented plans that would deal with such situations, including the  methods and crowd-dispersal means that would be used.</p>
<p>Haaretz stated that amidst the current usage of social network sites,  the army realized the need to make preparations that are not only based  on intelligence regarding intentions of Palestinian groups, but also on  what Palestinians and their supporters are sending over the net,  especially on social networking sites, such as twitter and Facebook.</p>
<p>But army commanders in the occupied territories said that, as long as  the protestors do not attempt to march to Jewish settlements, the army  does not need to prevent massive protests in the occupied territories.</p>
<p>The commanders also are considering the possibility that the protestors  will try to damage sections of the Annexation Wall or checkpoints, and  that should such incidents take place, “the army would use teargas and  rubber-coated metal bullets”.</p>
<p>But ongoing experiences with the way the army deals with nonviolent  protests against the Wall and settlements, push local Palestinian  nonviolent leaders to believe the army will resort to more lethal  weapons, especially since dozens of casualties were reported due to the  army&#8217;s use of excessive force against nonviolent protesters.</p>
<p>As for the Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank, and  while “acknowledging their strategic role and security cooperation with  Israel in the last two years”, Israeli security agencies do not believe  that P.A security forces will be helpful in the event of a popular  uprising, and that in this regard, the army is trying to locate other  channels within the local civilian leaders in the territories.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the several army battalion commanders who are involved in  operational tasks in the occupied territories are currently  participating in seminars, briefing sessions and workshops, while  brigade commanders are participating in discussions regarding operation  plans in preparation for such anticipated massive popular protests,  Haaretz concluded.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.imemc.org/article/60822">Army Does Not Believe It Can Contain A Widespread Revolution In The West Bank &#8211; International Middle East Media Center</a>.</p>
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