Al-Khaleej Al-Jadid, UAE, March 20
As the people of Palestine gear up for their “Mass March of Return” set to take place on May 15—the day marking the Nakba—Israeli authorities are growing increasingly concerned over what could be a pivotal event. Although the Israeli political echelon has publicly dismissed the protest, it is clear beyond any doubt that there is real fear in Tel Aviv about the possible repercussions of such widespread demonstrations. The Israeli military has already started preparing special units to quell the violence that is likely to erupt throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. What makes the situation more tense is that the march is set to take place around the same day the U.S. Embassy will be relocated to Jerusalem, thereby raising the prospect of the outbreak of another armed Palestinian Intifada. The Palestinians have nothing to lose. Recent studies by the World Bank indicate that the Palestinian unemployment rate has reached a staggering 40%. Palestinian youth have zero opportunities to build a better future for themselves, as they remain trapped in an environment of perpetual violence and poverty. The recent car-ramming in the West Bank, in which two occupation soldiers were killed, only highlights how faulty the Israeli perception of security is. The situation on the ground is extremely volatile and even the smallest event could trigger a full-blown uprising. It therefore comes as no surprise that the Israelis have been busy convening international panels to discuss the situation in Gaza, while United States President Donald Trump is preparing to release his framework for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians. An armed Palestinian uprising could thwart this effort by bringing an end to the Arab apathy surrounding the Palestinian issue. The Mass March of Return might just be the wake-up call that the Palestinian people so desperately need. There is certainly deep concern in Tel Aviv over the potential ramifications. – Salah Al-Naami