Palestinians were not at first mentioned on the Arab “revolution timetable“, but a date for protests was indeed set for 15 March. These protests are taking place in towns and cities throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the focus is Palestinian unity – a stand against the political divisions that have riven Palestinian society for many years. The call is first for unity and reconciliation, but other demands include the release of all political prisoners held by the government in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, and full democratic representation for Palestinians all over the world. The protests, as in other parts of the Arab world, are decentralised and organised by a coalition of youth groups, including Gaza Youth Breaks Out. However, there are fears that political factions will attempt to co-opt the movement. Laila El-Haddad explains why Palestinians are demonstrating: Over the past few weeks, I was asked a lot of questions, but perhaps none more than – what about Palestine? Why aren’t the youth rising up there? Besides the fact that Palestine is a different paradigm altogether – what with an Israeli occupying regime on one hand – and two pseudo non-sovereign governments on the other, we also have the precedent of Palestinians already having risen up – twice (first and second Intifadas) against the Israeli Occupation – and setting the example for the first truly democratic elections in the Arab Middle East in 2006, which in and of itself a monumental act of change by the people. Still, Palestinians are rising up – again. This time it is to demand the end of Palestinian disunity whose effects are felt deep within Palestinian society and families everywhere. A member of Gaza Youth Breaks Out, Rawan Abu-Shahla writes: We are a group of Palestinian youths who have come together for the sole purpose of leaving behind our political identities and affiliations, and deciding to put our best interests above all else, united under our Palestinian flag. We have called for peaceful demonstrations on Tuesday, 15 March across the Palestinian nation — in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, the territories of 1948 [Israel] and the Palestinian diaspora, calling out together one slogan: “The people want to end the division!” […] Division in the Palestinian body politic has affected every aspect of our lives: socially, economically, educationally and intellectually. It is ordinary Palestinians who have paid the price of the four-year long division that serves no one but the Israeli occupier. […] This movement is from the people, and for them. As for Gaza Youth Breaks Out (GYBO), and all other participating groups working in the field, we have only the honor of initiative. All else now depends on how the Palestinian street responds, and on how strong they can be. Demonstrating for unity, Gaza (photo by Sharif.H, reproduced under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 licence) Omar Ghraieb is taking part: Gazan youth chose March 15th to be the historical date for a huge mobilized march that demands the end of the Palestinian division. This march is organized and directed by Youth and Youth ONLY. It’s not directed or driven by any Palestinian political party in the background or behind the scenes. The march came as the Palestinian Youth's reaction to their frustration and anger of the Palestinian division and it’s about time this division came to an end. Seeing the Tunisian revolution, then the Egyptian epic revolt, Libya after that, Bahrain followed and a number of other Arabic attempts of course gave us more hope and motive drive to join the March 15th protests in Gaza. […] Again I would like to emphasize on the fact that I don’t belong to any Palestinian political party and that the march is just like me, it’s not driven by any Palestinian political party. It’s purely youth who want a better life and want to gain the freedom of their country by ending the Palestinian division first then Ending the Israeli occupation. Not everyone is sure about joining, however; Sameeha Elwan is a little scared, and she writes: Pressing the “Attending” icon on Facebook for the past year has started to be habitual. Very habitual that I do not really consider whether I would able to attend or not as long as I support the event or feel an eagerness to attend it. […] But never have I been so hesitant to decide on an event as that of the 15th March. I’ve been asked over and over again of what I think of the upcoming event that has been taking place so far, I would keep silent. […] For the past five years, I’ve been wanting nothing more than an end of this shameful division.