Fatah official says "Day of Rage" protests over US settlements policy will evolve into intifada; PA closes schools so students could join protests

Headline: “The homeland’s districts are raging today as a sign of opposition to the American-Israeli decisions, and the occupation army is on alert”

“The Israeli occupation army declared high alert in the West Bank yesterday [Nov. 25, 2019]. This was in order to prepare to deal with the processions that the national and Islamic factions called to hold today as a sign of opposition to the American declaration that the settlements do not contradict international law (refers to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statement; see note below –Ed.)…

Fatah Movement Central Committee member [and Fatah Commissioner of Mobilization and Organization in the West Bank] Jamal Muhaisen said that the Day of Rage is the start of a comprehensive program of struggle to deal with the American-Israeli steps, [which will reach] even to the point of a comprehensive intifada against the occupation’s crimes. In statements that he made to [the official PA] radio [station] The Voice of Palestine, Muhaisen noted that Fatah is in full coordination with the PLO factions (i.e, Fatah, PFLP etc.)…

The [PA] Ministry of Education announced a partial shutdown of all the schools in the districts of the homeland today, according to the decision of the PLO's factions, which opposes the US-Israeli resolution on settlements, the closure of the Jerusalem Education administration and ongoing attempts to harm the education in the Holy City and Israelize it. The ministry emphasized… that it is necessary to participate in the activities, and that studies at the schools will be stopped from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. so that there will be active participation in the mass processions and the activities that will be organized against these unfair decisions.”

Jamal Muhaisen also holds the position of PLO Central Council member.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the US administration’s new position on Israeli towns in the West Bank on Nov. 18, 2019, stating: "After carefully studying all sides of the legal debate... the establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not, per se, inconsistent with international law."