Abbas to West: Curb Israeli assaults or risk intifada

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned Tuesday of the risk of a new intifada after clashes last week at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound triggered by Israeli incursions, and with tensions rising as Jews and Muslims celebrate major religious holidays.

Abbas' comments after meeting French President Francois Hollande in Paris came with peace efforts at a standstill for more than a year and a recent poll showing a majority of Palestinians support a return to an armed uprising.

What is happening is very dangerous and could spark an intifada which we don't want - Mahmoud Abbas

"What is happening is very dangerous," Abbas said, while warning against "an intifada [uprising] which we don't want."

The Palestinian leader, whose recent moves have stirred speculation over whether he intends to step down soon, plans to travel to Russia after Paris as he seeks to rally support before his upcoming speech at the UN General Assembly.

However, Palestinian political sources, speaking to al-Araby al-Jadeed, downplayed the signficance of his upcoming UN speech. The sources also said France would not go ahead with a draft plan to end Israeli occupation at the UN, due to categorical US objections.

Tensions high in Jerusalem and Hebron

Jerusalem was calm Tuesday but under tight security, with thousands of police officers deployed and authorities closing off the city to residents of the occupied West Bank.

Unrest, however, hit the flashpoint Hebron area in the southern West Bank, with Israeli forces shooting a Palestinian woman who allegedly tried to stab a soldier.

The 18-year-old later died from her wounds, her father said, amid reports she was left to bleed for hours by the Israeli forces.

Overnight in the village of Dura near Hebron, another Palestinian was killed by an explosive device he allegedly intended to toss at a military vehicle, an Israeli military spokeswoman said.

Palestinian security officials, however, said he was shot dead by Israeli troops and identified him as Dia al-Talahmeh, 21.

Hundreds later gathered for his funeral in the village while declaring him a martyr, with his body wrapped in a flag for Palestinian group Islamic Jihad.

"I am very proud of my son. I hope out of every Palestinian house, a martyr will emerge," said his mother, who declined to provide her name.

Tensions have been running high ahead of the Jewish Yom Kippur holiday which begins at sundown Tuesday. The Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday begins Wednesday evening and continues until Sunday.

Israel has deployed thousands of police in Jerusalem and shut it off from the West Bank, with checkpoints closed for the holiday as in previous years.

There were also age restrictions on Muslims entering the al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem's Old City, with men under 40 prohibited.

Another Aqsa intifada?

Last week's clashes occurred as Jews celebrated their New Year, or Rosh Hashanah.

Israeli police raided the al-Aqsa compound to apprehend Palestinian worshippers who had barricaded themselves inside the mosque.

The Palestinians were protesting repeated incursions by settlers and Israeli occupation forces, and Israeli threats to divide the mosque, Islam's third holiest site, between Muslims and Jews.

Clashes broke out during the raids, with protesters throwing fireworks, stones and other objects at police, who fired stun grenades.

Hollande, after meeting Abbas Tuesday, called for "peace, calm and the respect of principles" at the Al-Aqsa compound.

A poll out this week showed 57 percent of Palestinians support a return to an armed intifada in the absence of peace negotiations, up from 49 percent three months ago.

Poll organisers said the figure was similar to numbers seen ahead of the second Palestinian intifada in 2000.

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