Palestinians accused the US president of condoning Israeli actions

US President Barack Obama's visit to Israel and Palestine on Wednesday was protested in Gaza by hundreds of Palestinians, as the US leader begins his first-ever trip to Israel as president. Demonstrators chanted slogans against the United States and Obama, and set fire to a US flag as they held up banners that read, "Obama, Palestinian children say 'No' to the invasion" and "Obama, you are not welcome in Palestine." "All Palestinian groups are against Obama's visit," said Talal Abu Zarifa, a member of the Democratic Front for the freedom of Palestine, which is among groups that helped organize the demonstration. "The US acts unjustly by consenting to Israeli practices such as attacks against Palestinians, the building of settlements, the Gaza blockade, and the treatment of captives. "If Obama wants peace, he must treat Israel as a normal state, not one that is above the law," Zarifa said. Demonstrators asked the Palestine administration to not give in to pressure it faces for resuming the negotiations with Israel before the Jewish state halts settlement construction and releases Palestinian captives.