Fatah official in Gaza after US recognition of Jerusalem: “All the options for defending and protecting this Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic right [to Jerusalem] are open”
Official PA TV, program Palestine This Morning, report from official PA TV studio in Gaza on the responses and protests to US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and transfer the US embassy to it, interview with Fatah Supreme Leadership Council in the Southern Districts (the Gaza Strip) member Najah Aliwa
Official PA TV host: “Let’s talk about the things that were organized yesterday [Dec. 9, 2017] and before then that stood out: the processions and protests against the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem.”
Fatah Supreme Leadership Council in the Southern Districts (the Gaza Strip) member Najah Aliwa: “First of all, I want to direct a blessing of honor to our Palestinian people that is standing firm, our people that [launched] a spontaneous uprising, without orders and instructions – this is Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a red line. Anything that touches Jerusalem touches the entire Palestinian people. It touches the heart and soul of the Palestinian people…
The Palestinian people is well aware of its rights. It knows well that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Palestinian state, and therefore there is no concession. Jerusalem is a red line, no one can approach it. All of the options stand before the Palestinian people. All the options for defending and protecting this Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic right are open. Jerusalem, as we said, is a red line. There will be no peace, and this uprising will not be stopped until it is written in bold… that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine. After that it will be possible to talk about peace.”
Host: “Two days ago [Dec. 8, 2017] there was a meeting of the [ Fatah] Supreme Leadership [Council in the Southern Districts] in order to talk about the practical steps that can be taken to deal with this decision. What are the decisions that you reached that stand out. What are the protest actions and processions that are being organized?” …
Najah Aliwa: “Fatah, like the Palestinian leadership… supports everything that the people is doing to protect the Palestinian identity and the status and sanctity of Jerusalem… and when danger approaches Jerusalem, all of the options are open. Fatah will not veer from the wise decision of the Palestinian leadership. All of the options are open, until the American leadership or American administration takes back its irresponsible decision that was made – I think – in a moment in which clear vision was absent in the American administration.”
US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump gave a speech formally recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and stating that he had instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump concluded by stating that the US is still fully committed to the peace process in the Middle East. Following his speech, Trump signed the waiver to delay the transfer of the embassy, and apparently will continue to do so until preparations for the transfer have been completed.
Official PA TV host: “Let’s talk about the things that were organized yesterday [Dec. 9, 2017] and before then that stood out: the processions and protests against the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem.”
Fatah Supreme Leadership Council in the Southern Districts (the Gaza Strip) member Najah Aliwa: “First of all, I want to direct a blessing of honor to our Palestinian people that is standing firm, our people that [launched] a spontaneous uprising, without orders and instructions – this is Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a red line. Anything that touches Jerusalem touches the entire Palestinian people. It touches the heart and soul of the Palestinian people…
The Palestinian people is well aware of its rights. It knows well that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Palestinian state, and therefore there is no concession. Jerusalem is a red line, no one can approach it. All of the options stand before the Palestinian people. All the options for defending and protecting this Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic right are open. Jerusalem, as we said, is a red line. There will be no peace, and this uprising will not be stopped until it is written in bold… that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine. After that it will be possible to talk about peace.”
Host: “Two days ago [Dec. 8, 2017] there was a meeting of the [ Fatah] Supreme Leadership [Council in the Southern Districts] in order to talk about the practical steps that can be taken to deal with this decision. What are the decisions that you reached that stand out. What are the protest actions and processions that are being organized?” …
Najah Aliwa: “Fatah, like the Palestinian leadership… supports everything that the people is doing to protect the Palestinian identity and the status and sanctity of Jerusalem… and when danger approaches Jerusalem, all of the options are open. Fatah will not veer from the wise decision of the Palestinian leadership. All of the options are open, until the American leadership or American administration takes back its irresponsible decision that was made – I think – in a moment in which clear vision was absent in the American administration.”
US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump gave a speech formally recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and stating that he had instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump concluded by stating that the US is still fully committed to the peace process in the Middle East. Following his speech, Trump signed the waiver to delay the transfer of the embassy, and apparently will continue to do so until preparations for the transfer have been completed.