Palestinians protest against US ‘bias’

Dozens of Palestinians arranged a protest in Ramallah on Tuesday to denounce the US for being “biased towards Israel”. The protest, which was held in Al-Manara Square in the centre of the occupied West Bank city, coincided with the arrival of US Secretary of State John Kerry to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. It was organised by a committee that included all Palestinian factions and was attended by members of the Executive Committee of the PLO and officials from other groups.

Kerry also held a joint press conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “It is very clear to us that the terrorism – these acts of terrorism which have been taking place –deserves the condemnation that it’s receiving,” he said. “And today, I expressed my complete condemnation for any act of terror that takes innocent lives and disrupts the day-to-day life of a nation. Israel has every right in the world to defend itself and it has an obligation to defend itself, and it will and it is.”

The secretary of state added that he is looking at ways of working with Israel and the international community “to push back against terrorism, to push back against senseless violence, and to find a way forward to restore calm.”

According to the PLO’s Wasel Abu Yousef, Kerry’s remarks demonstrated his bias towards Israel. Speaking to Anadolu news agency, he said that such statements are expected from the US administration. He criticised Kerry for equating the victims with the “predator”.

“He has distorted the facts,” insisted Abu Yousef. “Israeli crimes against the Palestinians constitute systematic ‘state terrorism’ and are punishable by law. Those who seek to restore calm should first address the roots of terrorism, which include the occupation and settlers’ violations.” The Palestinians’ message to John Kerry is that they cannot coexist with the occupation. “It must end,” he concluded.

Since the beginning of October, the occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli security forces following persistent violations of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque by illegal Jewish settlers, protected by the army and police.