By Henry Srebrnik, [Moncton, NB] Times & Transcript

When the “squad,” that group of left-wing Democratic Party legislators in the U.S. Congress who in their heart of hearts would like to see Israel disappear, begin to criticize the PLO regime on the West Bank, you know things have become bad.

They censured the Palestinian Authority (PA) amid Ramallah’s crackdown on rights activists and critics. This came after 28 people were arrested in a crackdown on peaceful protest Aug. 21-22.

Among them was Fadi Quran, the local Campaign Director from Avaaz, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that promotes global activism. He called the Palestinian Authority “an illegitimate government.”

They had gathered to hold protests memorializing well-known PA critic Nizar Banat, who died in the custody of Ramallah’s security forces in June.

“Locking up peaceful protesters is a textbook human rights abuse and the hallmark of authoritarian regimes,” tweeted Rep. Ilhan Omar. Palestinian-American Rep. Rashida Tlaib directed her disapproval at the PA’s leader. “Dear President Mahmoud Abbas,” she wrote. “Shame on you for suppressing Palestinian voices who are trying to seek liberation from not only the Israeli apartheid government, but from your corrupt leadership.”

Rep. Cori Bush added that “We stand with Palestinians against the violence of the Palestinian Authority’s authoritarianism. Freedom for political prisoners now.”

Nearly two dozen Palestinian civil society groups issued a statement on Aug. 23 warning of “a dangerous decline in rights and public freedoms,” and holding Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh responsible for “his failure to protect the rights of citizens.”

Why has this been happening? It appears that the status of President Abbas and the PA continue to deteriorate amid allegations of PA corruption. The PA is perceived by many Palestinians in the territories as unfit and bound to collapse.

On April 29, Abbas postponed elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council, which were due to be held on May 22. Abbas has been wary of elections since 2006, when his arch rival, Hamas, defeated his Fatah faction of the PLO, winning 74 of 132 seats in the Council.

Palestinian analysts said the president baulked when it looked like his Fatah movement was heading for defeat. The cancellation exposed what many Palestinians regard as proof of the futility of the policy pursued by Abbas since he was elected president in 2005. He has described security cooperation with Israel as essential to the PA’s rule, but the Palestinian public now regards this policy as weak and submissive.

The death of Banat on June 24, under interrogation in a security facility, only aggravated the rage. Banat, an independent opposition figure who frequently disseminated video clips critical of the PA, attracted many followers. His family has described his death as an “assassination.”

In Palestinian popular opinion, Hamas is the main beneficiary of these developments. It is now regarded as a more authentic representative of the Palestinian interest than the PLO, and as unafraid to fight against Israel.

Pollster Khalil Shikaki reported that Hamas is currently perceived as capable of changing the asymmetric relations between Israel and the Palestinians. Abbas has in effect conceded leadership of the conflict over the holy sites in Jerusalem to his Gaza-based rivals.

One of the ways that Hamas has chosen to challenge and weaken the PA is by publicly associating with the “axis of resistance” led by Iran and its proxies, and by strident declarations of coordination between battlefronts against Israel in the south and the north.

But the PLO does have its supporters. The extensive construction in the West Bank in 2007-2013, when Salam Fayyad was PA Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Ramallah government constructed homes, expanded investments in the economy, and created thousands of jobs.

A fairly large middle class was created during those years, which enjoyed economic stability and regular income that enabled it to plan its future, obtain bank credit, and meet financial obligations.

Abbas is given credit for this, which complicates the task of those seeking to depose him. Also, Palestinians view the institution of the Palestinian Authority as a national achievement, but only as a preliminary stage on the way to an independent state. Even Hamas, which opposed the 1993 Oslo Accords that set it up, now regards the PA as an institution that should be preserved.