Abbas was said to have discussed the situation with security and
intelligence agency chiefs in late January. Officials said the discussion
focused on the prospect of whether Palestinians would stage protests against
Mubarak, deemed a longtime supporter of the Abbas regime.
A key concern, officials said, was that any anti-Mubarak protest would
be exploited by the opposition Hamas movement. Hamas has been regarded as an
offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and said to be supporting the unrest
in Egypt.
On Jan. 30, PA forces dispersed a demonstration in front of the Egyptian
liasion office in Ramallah. A police force also attacked Western reporters
and television crews and arrested several of the protesters.
"Autocratic and unelected regimes tend to identify with one another,"
protest organizer Omar Barghouti said.
Abbas also ordered a halt to all protests, including those against
Israel. Officials said the PA chairman was concerned that demonstrations
organized against Israel could quickly turn into anti-Mubarak protests. On
Feb. 2, the PA organized a pro-Mubarak rally in Ramallah.
Officials said the ban on protests in the West Bank would be temporary.
Abbas has pledged to hold presidential and legislative elections, but has
not yet set a date. On Feb. 2, Hamas said it would boycott any elections
held by the PA.
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