mosque, clash, Israel, Intifada

Calls by Israeli right-wingers to converge on the Noble Sanctuary or al-haram al-Sharif and for the building of a Jewish temple in the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque have sparked the recent wave of violence, but Palestinian activists believe that the al-Aqsa mosque is part of the reason.

A fresh and broad wave of resistance will definitely be directed against the Israeli occupation, but what could it hold for the Palestinian Authority.

Analysts say the wave of pro-democracy movement in the Middle East and North Africa will give momentum to a new Palestinian Intifada, while an Intifada may just as well energize the recent popular uprisings in the region.

Almost 20 years have passed since the PLO and Israel have sat down in an attempt to bring a resolution to the conflict, but their attempt was futile. And the immediate question now is how will Israel respond to a new Intifada especially in light of the heightened tensions and sweeping changes in the region.