video transcript

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: Hundreds of demonstrators marched on the offices of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday to protest against diplomatic contacts with Israel and to denounce police violence at a previous rally. Chanting for an end to the Oslo accords, which were meant to pave the way to permanent peace with Israel, the flag-waving crowd cut through Ramallah's crammed city center under the watchful eye of scores of plainclothes security officers. While there were no slogans directed specifically against Abbas himself, the protesters were scathing about a recent announcement that the Palestinian president was ready to meet Israeli Vice Premier Shaul Mofaz. The planned encounter would have been the highest-level meeting between the two sides since direct peace talks broke down in 2010. However, it was abruptly called off at the weekend in apparent response to angry Palestinian public opinion. The 1993 Oslo Accords gave the Palestinians limited self-rule in the occupied territories, and set out the guidelines for future peace talks to end the Middle East conflict.