Youth group calls to protest against Obama’s visit

Palestinian youth group called to reject US President Barack Obama's visit to Palestine and to demonstrate against resuming negotiations, said a press release by Palestinians For Dignity group published on Sunday. The group said Obama's visit to Palestine, which is expected between 20-22 of March, comes while the hunger striking prisoners are battling Israeli policies and arbitrary measures and the US silence. Palestinians For Dignity said that it is “naive to presume that US policy toward Israel has changed since Obama took office.” They referred to a report by US Congress, which discussed a $3.1 billion for military aid purposes, which included “financing the Iron Dome system, and increasing US bilateral support to Israel to $115 billion since 1949.” It said that US commits to maintain Israel’s security on the expense of Palestinian lives by taking no action against settlement activities in the West Bank and justifying the massacres against Palestinians in Gaza among other things. The group said, “It is hypocritical and disingenuous that the PLO disregards the role of the Obama administration in blocking its membership request in 2011 at the Security Council, and its vote against the resolution at the General Assembly in 2012.” It criticized the idea of receiving Obama in Ramallah even though the Palestinian leadership assured Palestinians that it considers Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. It pointed out the financial sanctions imposed by US congress on international institutions that recognized Palestine. The group claimed that the visit aims to “relieve the pressure off the Israeli government, which is suffering increased international isolation (albeit with words more than actions), restrain the frustration of the Palestinian street simmering in solidarity with prisoners, and prolong the expected lifetime of the PA, which after 20 years is becoming more and more disconnected from its people.” It said that Palestinians will not accept to play a role in achieving these interests, and will not succumb to these pressures. They called for a complete boycott of Israel and to rebuild a representative entity for Palestinians everywhere. Palestinians For Dignity called on all Palestinians to demonstrate against receiving Obama, who considers Israel “the closest ally in the region” and to refuse return to negotiations.