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Peace lecture interrupted by assailants

Palestinian and international activists protest against construction of Israel's separation barrier by locking themselves in a cage in the West Bank village of Bil'in near Ramallah on Wednesday. Israel says the barrier is necessary to keep suicide bombers out, but Palestinians call it a land grab. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Ali Daraghmeh Associated Press
Palestinian and international activists protest against construction of Israel's separation barrier by locking themselves in a cage in the West Bank village of Bil'in near Ramallah on Wednesday. Israel says the barrier is necessary to keep suicide bombers out, but Palestinians call it a land grab. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

BALATA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank – Gunmen in a refugee camp opened fire Wednesday, disrupting a lecture from the Palestinian prime minister about the need to end violence.

The shooting highlighted the difficulty of his task.

“This country needs order, needs quiet,” Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia shouted, repeating a theme he has pressed for weeks. But even as he spoke, gunfire rang out, startling Qureia and putting his bodyguards on high alert.

Television News footage showed militants angrily waving their weapons as Qureia’s security guards – their rifles trained on the gunmen – stood at the windows of the building where the prime minister was speaking in the Balata camp next to the city of Nablus.

“Don’t listen to them. Don’t be scared, don’t let these gunmen run the show,” Qureia said.

After Qureia’s speech, gunmen opened fire and set off an explosive device about 300 yards from his convoy. No one was injured. Qureia was whisked away.

Internal violence is becoming as crucial an issue as the conflict with Israel, and controlling it is a key test for Qureia and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Last week the Palestinian Center for Human Rights released a report listing violent incidents in Palestinian areas from June 9 to June 14 that killed seven people and injured at least 20 others. The group said it “is gravely concerned at the continued deterioration in internal security ” and called on the Palestinian Authority to restore order.

After Wednesday’s incident, Qureia emerged from a Cabinet meeting in Nablus and promised again to take action, but did not spell out any plans.

“There are a lot of problems in Nablus, including unemployment,” he said. “We do not want to give anyone excuses – the security of the citizen and the nation is more important than anything else.”

After more than four years of Palestinian-Israeli violence and an ailing economy, Palestinians are growing tired of gun-toting thugs wreaking havoc in their neighborhoods, and complain the Palestinian Authority is doing little to restore order.

Palestinians say efforts to restore order have been complicated after many officers crossed over to militant groups after Israel targeted police headquarters.