Senior Palestinian official urges avoiding ‘internal conflict’ as anti-PA protests continue

Senior Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh calls on Palestinians to refrain from “internal conflict” as protests against the PA enter their fourth day.

“We will not allow anyone to drag us and the Palestinian arena into internal conflict. We call on everyone to adhere to law and order and protect our national unity,” tweets al-Sheikh, who is responsible for the PA’s ties with Israel.

Protests are planned to take place in Ramallah, Hebron and in Bethlehem’s Deheishe Refugee Camp this evening.

The demonstrations were sparked by the death of prominent PA critic Nizar Banat. A well-known social media commentator, Banat died in PA custody after security forces raided a Hebron hideout early on Thursday morning. His family says he was “viciously beaten” by officers as they arrested him.