Palestinian protest sends message to Trump over US embassy move

RAMALLAH, Occupied West Bank - Hundreds of Palestinians protested on Thursday in different city centres of the West Bank against Donald Trump’s support for moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and in condemnation of the demolition of several Palestinian homes in the village of Umm al-Hieran in Negev.

In Ramallah, dozens gathered around Al-Manara square during a protest called by the "the Palestinian National Committee against US policy".

The national and Islamic factions of Ramallah warned of “the seriousness of the US move, considering that the decision is an elimination of any chance for peace in the region and a declaration of war on the Palestinian people”.

Protesters raised the Palestinian flag and put up many slogans like “Trump, take your racism away from the Holy City”, “Our dignity is non-negotiable.. Do not touch Jerusalem,” and “the whole world is moving forward but the Trump administration is moving backwards.”

Similar slogans were put up by hundreds of people who came out in a protest in the city of Nablus, where they waved Palestinian flags and photos of victims of Israeli violence in response to a call by the factional coordination committee.

Many official figures participated in the demonstration including the governor of Nablus, Major General Akram Rajoub, Nablus Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Shubash, and the member of the Fatah central committee, Mahmoud Aloul, whose speech emphasised that the implementation of the plan to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel threatens any chance for the two-state solution based on international resolutions.

Aloul said that the Palestinian leadership will continue its efforts at the diplomatic level, in parallel with the popular movement on the ground to put pressure on the new US administration to back down from its decision.

Aloul explained that "there are several scenarios developed by the Palestinian Authority in case the implementation of the decision to move the embassy; including the withdrawal of recognition of the state of occupation and stop all forms of dealing with him [Trump]."

Meanwhile, participants in Hebron stressed that "Jerusalem is the key to peace and war, and the US administration should stop its complicit policy in the Middle East with Israeli interests."

One week ago, the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, sent a letter to Trump, saying that if the US embassy is moved to Jerusalem, the Middle East, and even peace in the world, “will be in severe trouble”.

Protests all over the West Bank cities also condemned the Israeli crimes in Umm Al-Hiran on Wednesday, where two Palestinians were killed and the homes in the community were demolished.