Aller au contenu principal

Trump's UN envoy leading anti-Palestinian 'crusade', says PLO

Since being nominated by US President Donald Trump, Nikki Haley has consistently accused the UN of systematic bias against Israel
Haley with Trump at the White House in April (AFP)
Par AFP

A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday blasted Donald Trump's UN envoy, accusing her of carrying out a "crusade" against the Palestinian people.

Hanan Ashrawi, an senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said Nikki Haley was leading a "one-woman crusade... against Palestine and the Palestinian people individually and collectively".

"Through an obsessive and targeted campaign of intimidation and threats, Miss Haley's crusade does not miss an opportunity to put pressure on anyone that seeks to challenge Israeli impunity," she added.

Ashrawi said Haley was echoing Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Palestinian officials have privately expressed increasing alarm at the Trump administration's pro-Israel stance as the US president seeks to restart peace negotiations.

However, until Wednesday they had publicly refrained from criticising senior US officials.

Haley is 'compounding the victimisation of the Palestinian people and browbeating the institutions that are meant to defend their rights'

- Hanan Ashrawi, senior PLO member

Haley visited Israel and the Palestinian territories in June.

Ashrawi said Haley was "compounding the victimisation of the Palestinian people and browbeating the institutions that are meant to defend their rights".

The statement was distributed by the PLO.

Since being nominated by Trump after his November victory, Haley has consistently accused the United Nations of systematic bias against Israel.

The US vetoed the appointment of a former Palestinian prime minister as UN envoy to Libya, while Haley has called on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to intervene to block a forthcoming vote on the city of Hebron which declares the West Bank city under threat.

Trump came to office seeking to pursue what he has called the "ultimate deal" and has pledged to restart negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

But Arab media reports claim talks between the Palestinian leadership and Trump and his team - including his son-in-law Jared Kushner - have been fractious, allegations denied by the Palestinians.

Ashrawi said Haley was undermining the chances of peace by "pursuing her own agenda consistent with her anti-Palestinian obsession and as an apologist for Israel".

Israel occupied the Palestinian territories in 1967 in a move never recognised by the international community.

In December the United Nations Security Council adopted a landmark resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories

Middle East Eye propose une couverture et une analyse indépendantes et incomparables du Moyen-Orient, de l’Afrique du Nord et d’autres régions du monde. Pour en savoir plus sur la reprise de ce contenu et les frais qui s’appliquent, veuillez remplir ce formulaire [en anglais]. Pour en savoir plus sur MEE, cliquez ici [en anglais].