Bethlehem
One question I've asked myself since coming here is why the West Bank has been so quiet during these twelve days of bloodshed in Gaza. I've been in Ramallah and Bethlehem gauging opinion - although I'm a little frustrated that covering the Gaza story has prevented me roaming further afield in the Occupied Territories, I have been able to form an idea about the complexities of Palestinian politics at this time of turbulence and high emotions.
Talking to Ayman Daraghmeh, one of the few pro-Hamas Legislative Council members who remains at liberty (the others have been jailed) I am surprised that even he does not advocate a Third Intifada in support of Gaza. What would the objective be ? he asked rhetorically. Better not to ask people to suffer in support of some ill defined objective, he adds.
There are though other reasons why the streets seem quiet, oddly so for someone who experienced fierce fighting in both Ramallah and Bethlehem during the early days of the Second Intifada. Some people, like Mustapha Barghouti, an independent who challenged Mahmoud Abbas for the presidency, argue that his former rival has been exercising too tight a grip on the streets for large scale protest to take off.
I'm Mark Urban, and I'm Newsnight's diplomatic and defence editor. I deal with war and peace around the world, so with apologies to Leo Tolstoy, that's what this blog will be called. No literary pretensions, just an attempt to drill down to the key issues - people around the world struggling for peace and security.
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