"They
protest to express not only their right to oppose Obama's visit, but to oppose all
positions of the United States, which invariably provide cover for the
occupation, and with its continuous financial, military and political support, provides
it with every tool for murder. And in return, we, the victims, are whipped."
Palestinian president and founder of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat. Should President Obama have agreed to lay a wreath at his tomb as a sign of goodwill toward Palestinians? There is dissapointment in the Palestinian Territories that he refused to do so - and after oppossing recognition of a Palestinian state at the U.N. last year.
Time is passing quickly and officials are racing. Once
again, asphalt is being laid on the road. Bumps, which have damaged our own
cars of all sizes for years - large medium and small - are being flattened so
Obama won't be jostled in his. All weeds have been removed from curbs and walkways.
Pedestrian paths and street lines have been repainted with the red, white and
black. The city has been refurbished again with trees washed and trimmed, and a
statue in the form of a map of Palestine has been removed from city center and
replaced with a dove of peace, only to be switched back before the
people revolt. Shops and hotels, not to mention streets, are told to close as a
sign of respect to the invitee, whose long motorcade will pass through on its
way to Manger Square.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Huge banners are hung over entrances in the city, and a photo-shopped
image of the president gazes off into the distance as if it doesn't see us.
There is great interest in the visit, and naysayers are portrayed as old
school whose time has passed. They protest to express not only their right to
oppose the visit, but to oppose all positions of the United States, which invariably
provide cover for the occupation, and with its continuous financial, military
and political support, provides it with every tool for murder. And in return,
we, the victims, are whipped.
We haven't forgotten the position taken by the United
States opposing the state of Palestine during voting at the United Nations. We have
witnessed the pressure and blackmail that takes place - and continues to take
place - against us or anyone who supports our cause, whether it be economic or
political. That is the position of the United States, which sides with the
occupation, and whose president is coming here empty handed, without any
political initiatives and without any results. He won't even put a wreath of flowers
on the tomb of Yasser Arafat. Can this, in any sense of the word, be considered
de-facto U.S. recognition of the state of Palestine?
