Arab opposition to President Trump’s “Deal of the Century”
Sixteen signatory Middle Eastern organizations expressed their “grave concern regarding the US-led ‘Peace to Prosperity’ workshop in Bahrain, which poses a significant threat to the Palestinian right to self-determination, justice, and equality”, part of President Trump’s anticipated Palestine-Israel peace plan. The proposal was put together by Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner.
A joint statement comments on “…the troubling pattern of the current US administration’s policies portend what the plan will likely entail — a continued course of uncritical support for Israel at the expense of the rights of the Palestinian people. Since 2017, the Trump administration’s policies have undermined Palestinian rights, contravened international law, and flouted longstanding US policies with regard to Israel and Palestine.
“President Trump has recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and Israel’s annexation of the Syrian Golan in violation of international law, which does not recognize sovereignty over territory taken from another country by force. It has also cut crucial US funding to UNRWA for its work with Palestinian refugees, eliminated USAID programs in the West Bank and Gaza, and closed the Washington office of the General Delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
“Palestinians have been held captive to Israel’s market and economy due to the prolonged occupation and are facing increasing economic pressure as a result of US policies. Now, Palestinians will be asked to give up their inalienable rights and struggle for freedom and justice in exchange for vague promises of economic cooperation and an alleged better standard of living. The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and a number of prominent Palestinian businessmen have made it clear that they oppose the plan and will not be attending. Russia and China will also boycott the workshop.”
This entry was posted in Humanitarian Aid, International Cooperation, Uncategorized by Grant Montgomery.