Palestinians Defy US Policies, Rely on Regional Allies: Activist
RAMALLAH (Tasnim) – A Palestinian political activist ruled out any role for the new US administration in the settlement of conflicts in the occupied territories, stressing that Palestinians would never follow the US policies, but rely on their regional allies like Iran and Hezbollah.
The people of Palestine do not follow the US and the American axis, Issam Bakr, a member of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces told Tasnim in Palestine.
He predicted that new US President Donald Trump is going to take a harsher stance against Palestinians and form a closer alliance with the Zionist regime of Israel.
The US foreign policy has not changed over the past two decades, Bakr added, saying the first priority for Washington is to ensure the safety of the Israeli regime.
The political figure also highlighted Palestine’s close relations with Iran, Hezbollah and the axis of resistance, saying the relations will certainly continue to be close.
He finally underlined that Palestinian groups will press ahead with efforts to achieve national reconciliation and bridge differences, giving an assurance that Trump’s plans to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (al-Quds) will not scare the Palestinian nation.
The White House said on Sunday that it is in the early stages of talks to fulfill Trump's pledge to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, a move opposed by the Palestinian leadership.
The previous US administration, under Obama, had plans for peace between Israel and Palestine, but Trump’s term has raised concerns about an escalation of conflicts in the Palestinian lands.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has voiced readiness to resume peace talks if Israel agreed to freeze settlement construction.
The Israeli settlements built on Palestinian land are considered illegal under international law.
There are close to 600,000 Israeli citizens living in Jewish-only housing settlements across the West Bank, and at least 200,000 in East Jerusalem, according to the Israeli human rights watchdog B'tselem.
