Taken from PL Today, several billboards and posters bearing the phrase “Mr. President: This is Apartheid” appear in many parts of West Bank cities such as Bethlehem and Ramallah, hours before US President Joe Biden’s visit.
This campaign is promoted by the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem).
Washington should realize “that the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean is governed by an apartheid regime and its attitude toward Israel has changed accordingly.”
“When the situation changes, so will the system,” Hagai El-Ad, B’Tselem CEO, was quoted by the Jerusalem Post as saying.
Starting yesterday his first tour as president of the Middle East, Biden indicated that a two-state solution is the best way to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but stressed that it is not visible on the near horizon.
Arab media agree that the Palestinian issue is in the background on the president’s agenda, which aims to address security issues, Iran’s nuclear program, and increased oil production.
As part of his tour, Biden heads tomorrow to the West Bank city of Bethlehem, where he will be received by his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.
Nabil Amr, an advisor to Abbas, questioned the results of the visit because of Washington’s historical support for his ally.
Yesterday, Amr said in statements to the Ynet news site: “We do not expect a warm hug like the one Biden will give the Israelis.”
Al-Safa News Agency quoted writer Hani Al-Masry as saying that the visit is official and marginal and has no effect on the Palestinian cause.
He denounced that the government’s recognition of the two-state solution is just a bad check on the Palestinians.
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