Top Israeli-Arab Journalist - Khaled Abu Toameh reports in the Jerusalem Post that residents of Bethlehem’s three refugee camps – Dheisheh, Aida and Jibrin (also known as al-Azza Camp) – have over the past few days been launching daily protests against the Palestinian Authority.

During the nightly protests, the residents burned tires and blocked streets, demanding the release of several young men arrested by the PA security forces.

The protests coincided with preparations for Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem and the nearby towns of Bet Jala and Bet Sahour.

Some Christian residents expressed fear that the protests in the refugee camps might spread to their communities, ruining Christmas festivities that have already been badly affected since the outbreak of the coronavirus in March 2020.

The protests began at Dheisheh refugee camp after the PA security forces arrested a number of young men who raised banners belonging to Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) during the funeral of Amjad Abu Sultan.

During the funeral, PA security officers attacked several mourners who were carrying Hamas flags and PFLP banners, according to Palestinian sources.

Later, the PA security forces arrested several young men from Dheisheh, Aida and Jibrin camps who participated in the funeral on charges of assaulting a number of officers.

On instructions from the PA leadership, the Palestinian security forces have in recent weeks banned Palestinians from carrying Hamas flags and banners of other Palestinian groups during public events.

The protests first began in Dheisheh camp after the PA security forces last week arrested Mohammed Shaheen, a teenager who participated in the funeral of Abu Sultan. Several camp residents who were summoned for interrogation by the PA security forces have refused to comply.

“What is happening in Dheisheh and the other two refugee camps is a small intifada (uprising) against the Palestinian Authority,” said a Palestinian journalist from Bethlehem. “The residents of the camp are angry because they feel intimidated by the Palestinian security forces. The clampdown is targeting supporters of the PFLP and Hamas.”

A PA security official in Bethlehem refused to comment on the allegations.

Bethlehem Municipality, meanwhile, has begun decorating Manger Square and other parts of the city for Christmas.

But some Christian residents warned that the tensions in the nearby refugee camps could spread to Bethlehem, Bet Jala and Bet Sahour.

“The situation in Bethlehem is very tense,” said a Christian businessman who owns an olive wood factory in the city. “We hope that the Palestinian security forces are able to solve the problem with the camp residents before Christmas. 

The tensions in Bethlehem came amid growing scenes of violence on university campuses in the West Bank.

On Saturday, a student was stabbed to death during a brawl at the Arab American University (AAU) near Jenin. The student was identified as Mahran Khaliliyeh, 21. His friends claimed that he was attacked by students affiliated with Fatah.