Palestinian Protesters Accuse Blinken of Bias Towards Israel During Ramallah Visit
(AWP) - Palestinians in Ramallah in the West Bank took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to the city, where he held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as part of the former’s regional tour to discuss the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip since October 7.
Demonstrators chanted slogans and carried banners accusing Blinken and Washington of bias towards Israel in its war against the Palestinian people.
Bassam al-Salhi, Secretary General of the Palestinian People’s Party, who took part in the protest, said, “We say that the American envoy is not welcome in Palestine, and we completely condemn the American stance as a partner in the aggression against Gaza.
Unless there is a clear position to end the aggression and end the occupation, the American administration is only promoting the continuation of the occupation and the continuation of the aggression against Gaza, and therefore it must not be received – neither in Ramallah nor in any Arab capital.”
Issam Bakr, Coordinator of the National Factions in Ramallah, who also was at the demonstration, said, “This protest is to express our rejection of the biased American position and a rejection of the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State to the Palestinian territories. Talking about “the day after [the war]” and American proposals is throwing ashes in the eyes. The United States is a full partner in the aggression against our Palestinian people, and talking about the day after the war is a way to cover up the crimes of the occupation by the United States.”
Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported that Abbas highlighted the danger of statements made by Israeli officials and ministers calling for the expulsion of Palestinians from their land, stressing his total rejection of the displacement of any Palestinian, whether from Gaza or the West Bank.
“This is something we will not allow to happen,” Abbas said.
The Palestinian President reiterated that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the Palestinian state and that its separation or the annexation of any part of it cannot be accepted.
He also spoke about the need for Israel to release Palestinian clearance funds immediately, saying that its withholding is “contrary to agreements and international law.”