When Israel tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip less than two weeks ago, barring even humanitarian supplies, the world reacted with outrage and demonstrations broke out in several Arab capitals. In West Bank towns, however, the Palestinians who gathered to express their anger came out in small, shy crowds.

Some Palestinians put the muted reaction down to the Palestinian Authority's discouragement of protests; others claimed the PA had repressed a mass rally called by Hamas, the Islamist group in control of Gaza.