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Palestinian police taking positions in Ramallah Wednesday, the day before Bush's visit. (AP)
Last update - 10:15 10/01/2008
Palestinians in Ramallah brace for visit by 'that criminal' Bush
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Palestinians, George Bush 

It was only at 1:30 P.M. that Amjad arrived with his truck and his crane to hang American and Palestinian flags on the streets around the Muqata government headquarters. No one from the Palestinian Authority wants to leave them hanging too long, for fear they might be burned.

However, the hot topic in Ramallah was the closing of the roads. On Wednesday afternoon, the Palestinian security forces already were stopping cars from approaching the Muqata, where President George W. Bush is scheduled to land this morning. Photographers were asked not to photograph the complex even from a distance, and media teams were asked to leave nearby streets.

Ala, who lives nearby, said Preventive Security personnel had been moving from house to house for the past few days and taking down residents' names.
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"We were asked not to go out onto the balconies or the roofs. We are not allowed to go into the street, either," he said. "That criminal, George Bush, has put us under curfew. The Israelis are not enough - now him, too. He is destroying the world and he will yet be tried for his crimes," he added.

His female companion, from East Jerusalem, nodded in agreement. Bush's visit has not brought good news, in her opinion.

A man selling peanuts nearby was even more forthright, describing his attitude to Bush in crude expressions. On Wednesday he said he would not be coming to work Thursday, since the entire length of Al-Irsal Street, leading from Manara Square to the Muqata, would be completely blocked off.

At Samar's barber shop, the attitude was different. One of the customers, who refused to give his name, said he believed Bush's visit could bring a change of direction. A few minutes later it came out that the man, S., was one of the most wanted men of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Ramallah, and had hid out in the ruined Muqata in 2003. He was eventually thrown out of there, and was recently pardoned by Israel as part of the agreement on wanted men.

"Maybe something will come out of it," he said, "but let me tell you something. You Israelis are strong now and we are weak. But the day will come, you'll see, when we'll be stronger than you and the reckoning will be made. And if anybody doesn't like it, let him go drink out of the sea at Gaza," he added, referring to a well-known expression Yasser Arafat used to use.

Feelings are mixed. Passersby do not seem to expect a dramatic change, but still, Bush's first visit to the West Bank since the intifada instills feelings of pride.

The atmosphere is festive for another reason as well: the motorcycle unit. They are passing by constantly, revving their 650-cc engines, sirens wailing and lights flashing. One of them explains to Haaretz that this is their training. They set out "on the road," driving their white Hondas the 20 meters around Manara square again and again, until the passersby smile. They are working hard to make an impression.

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      1.   "Fiesta time in Ramallah" 04:46  |  Stephen. 10/01/08
      2.   Israel strong, Palestinians weak 05:10  |  William 10/01/08
      3.   The Criminals hate the criminal? 05:12  |  Cristo 10/01/08
      4.   War criminal meeting! 06:31  |  Niva dos santos 10/01/08
      5.   Remember when 07:37  |  Steve 10/01/08
      6.   Golden Opportunity 08:11  |  ATLAS 10/01/08
      7.   Bush, why not meet Abbas in safer Amman, Jordan ? 08:13  |  Aharon 10/01/08
      8.   Bush is a "fryer" for going into Arafat`s safe room to meet Abu M 08:29  |  Zeev 10/01/08
      9.   Meeting does not have to be in Ramallah 08:38  |  MiddleStanian 10/01/08
      10.   We welcome Bush but don`t welcome oppression 08:50  |  Hanna Issa 10/01/08
      11.   Thanks, (for the "info") but no thanks. 09:02  |  S 10/01/08
      12.   Why not meet in Jerusalem the eternal capital of palestine !? 09:08  |  Hipocrisy Monitor 10/01/08
      13.   Bush is very couragous... 09:09  |  Eric 10/01/08
      14.   Roll out the red carpet for Bush 09:11  |  Joe 10/01/08
      15.   Joe the runaway #12 09:42  |  Jasmine Murphy 10/01/08
      16.   The man in charge 09:58  |  Dav 10/01/08
      17.   hypocricy monitor 10:11  |  danny 10/01/08
      18.   Why Should I love Bush?? 10:16  |  Palestinian 10/01/08
      19.   more of the world gone mad george in noddy land 10:33  |  v hardman 10/01/08
      20.   He Means What He Says!! 11:15  |  Neil 10/01/08
      21.   Bush in Ramallah. Very Bold Move 11:29  |  tim 10/01/08
      22.   the Tragic Day to be Remembered as Infamy in World History 11:33  |  Joseph E . 10/01/08
      23.   Cracks In The Great American Empire 12:04  |  Joseph E . post 1 10/01/08
      24.   Cracks In The Great American Empire 12:05  |  Joseph E . post 2 10/01/08
      25.   Hipocrisy Monitor, they already met! the real palestinians... 12:10  |  mary for jews 10/01/08
      26.   Bush Is Receiving A Better Welcome IN PALESTINE Than The U.S. 12:28  |  Proud Pal Defender 10/01/08
      27.   the kiss of death... 13:17  |  ravi 10/01/08
      28.   gratuitous interference ravi 13:59  |  guru nanak 10/01/08
      29.   ravi and hamas 14:02  |  guru nanak 10/01/08
      30.   Could this be the last time this criminal from the white house 14:31  |  lakshmi 10/01/08
      31.   Bush should be in chains not getting the red carpet treatment 14:36  |  Dutch 10/01/08
      32.   Bush should be in chains not getting the red carpet treatment 14:36  |  Dutch 10/01/08
      33.   Bush should be in chains not getting the red carpet treatment 14:36  |  Dutch 10/01/08
      34.   Bush should be in chains not getting the red carpet treatment 14:36  |  Dutch 10/01/08
      35.   Bush should be in chains not getting the red carpet treatment 14:36  |  Dutch 10/01/08
      36.   Bush should be in chains not getting the red carpet treatment 14:36  |  Dutch 10/01/08
      37.   Bush should be in chains not getting the red carpet treatment 14:36  |  Dutch 10/01/08
      38.   # 18 Palestinian..who cares if you "love" Bush? 15:10  |  Lynn 10/01/08
      39.   # 28 lakshmi 15:21  |  Lynn 10/01/08
      40.   Joseph E..they live on reservations, 15:29  |  Lynn 10/01/08
      41.   Dutch,greetings! Since Cynthia McKinney was forced by the Lobby 15:30  |  lakshmi 10/01/08
      42.   lakshmi....Cynthia McKinney was voted out 15:37  |  Lynn 10/01/08
      43.   Dutch...what laws has he broken? 15:39  |  Lynn 10/01/08
      44.   #37diris cadigan should be in chains and banned from typing 15:40  |  victor hardman 10/01/08
      45.   Gereetings to you Lakshmi 16:13  |  Dutch 10/01/08
      46.   Dutch so you are an ``American`` 16:55  |  Gil 10/01/08
      47.   Saddam vs. Bush; a comparison 17:04  |  Tosefta 10/01/08
      48.   Tosefta, what a cop out 17:48  |  Jasmine Murphy 10/01/08
      49.   Bush`s terrible service to the Palestinians, so far 17:48  |  Tosefta 10/01/08
      50.   Hello everyone disregard Tosefta SHE WRITES TO MUCH 18:00  |  Gil 10/01/08
      51.   #12 MUSLIM KILLED 18:18  |  TOBIA 10/01/08
      52.   #37 18:40  |  TOBIA 10/01/08
      53.   good to hear from you sister mary for jews.... 18:49  |  maria 10/01/08
      54.   Try to find my mistakes here too (Jasmine Murphy #48) 19:29  |  Tosefta 10/01/08
      55.   ah Tosefta: recycling old postings again 20:00  |  Jasmine Murphy 10/01/08
      56.   Tosefta, your comparison makes sense 20:15  |  Palestinian 10/01/08
      57.   Dutch (30....), no lesson needed from you. Didn´t Mr.Bush 20:17  |  Karl 10/01/08
      58.   Please, find the mistakes! (Jasmine Murphy #55) 20:19  |  Tosefta 10/01/08
      59.   u should love him becuase he is the first u.s. 20:23  |  real palestinian 10/01/08
      60.   42 Lynn,and Dutch,45,Lynn the ganging up of the Dems against 20:43  |  lakshmi 10/01/08
      61.   Well Gil, Here is my answer & Bush`s charges 20:59  |  Dutch 10/01/08
      62.   Its about leadership, not just strength 21:01  |  Voice of Reason 10/01/08
      63.   Excellent idea (Palestinian #56) 21:05  |  Tosefta 10/01/08
      64.   Well Gil, here is my answer & Bushes charges.. 21:09  |  DUtch 10/01/08
      65.   Start again, Tosefta 21:20  |  Jasmine Murphy 10/01/08
      66.   tosefta to the lady "please find my mistakes" 21:34  |  rotem 10/01/08
      67.   "Criminal" the Arab behaviour that started this war,Afghanistan 22:35  |  PETER SM 10/01/08
      68.   #57 It`s amazing the death & destruction Bush has glossed over 23:03  |  dutch 10/01/08
      69.   Jasmine Murphy #65 23:05  |  Tosefta 10/01/08
      70.   Dutch OMG 23:15  |  Gil