Palestinians protest US ‘deal of the century’

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday against the so-called “Deal of the Century” -- a backchannel plan to reach a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Palestinian people "stand united against the ‘deal of the century’,” Dalal Salama, a member of Fatah’s central council, told Anadolu Agency.

Protesters waved banners rejecting the proposed deal and burnt pictures of U.S. President Donald Trump.

“The rally is a message to the U.S. administration and the Israeli government that the Palestinian people insist on resolving the conflict in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and refuse to abandon their inalienable rights,” Salama said.

She reiterated commitment of the Palestinian people and leadership to establishing a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Last week, Trump’s senior adviser, Jared Kushner, said details of the proposed deal would be announced soon.

Kushner recently visited the region along with U.S. peace envoy Jason Greenblatt where they held talks in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Israel with a view to promoting the “Deal of the Century”.

The Palestinian leadership, however, has rejected U.S. mediation since last December, when Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Middle East conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.