Fatah official attacks US over Jerusalem decision, demonizes Israel, and accuses Israel of “defilement of the sanctified places in Jerusalem,” and calls riots and terror attacks as “epics of courage”
Official PA TV, live broadcast from the opening event of the Jerusalem the Capital of the Islamic Youth 2018 conference, held by the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (an affiliate of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation) at the PA headquarters in Ramallah; PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas participated in the event
Fatah Central Committee Secretary and Head of the PLO Supreme Council for Sport and Youth Affairs Jibril Rajoub: “What American President [Donald Trump] did when he omitted Jerusalem with a single stroke from the final resolution issues provides a recipe for continuation of the war and adds fuel to the fire, and this is inappropriate conduct. It is inappropriate that a country that is supposed to be a patron of peace takes a side in the conflict. This step has negated its [America’s] role as the patron, and turned it into a partner in the aggression against our people and its rights, which have been recognized by international laws. The acts of political bullying that we are experiencing today through the removal of Jerusalem and the refugees from the negotiations and giving a free hand to the monstrosity of settlement, which will eliminate the possibility of establishing a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state in accordance with the international decisions and according to what the Arab Initiative demands – this shameful political conduct brings the conflict back to square one and makes the war on terror a farce. The US, led by Trump, is working to cover up for the organized state terror that is being led by a government that includes extremist fanatics, while the actions of murdering and arresting children, destroying homes, and expropriating lands constitute the height of terror, which requires international intervention to restrain its wild behavior. The American actions that have turned the [peace] deal into a slap are meant to topple the hopes for peace in the region and in the world. After all, the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories is the first seed of terror that created the seeds of terror in the Arab region and the Middle East, in addition to the world’s inability to resolve this difficult problem and restore the right to its Palestinian owners. The official, settlement, rabbinic, and Jewish extremism is what feeds the phenomena of extremism in the region, through that which the settlers are committing with the support of the occupation government: arson, murder, expropriation, imprisonment, humiliation, and defilement of the sanctified places in Jerusalem – and especially the incessant invasions of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is thanks to American support and partnership…
The people of Jerusalem – who in July 2017 recorded epics of courage with their bared chests by defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem (refers to riots and terror attacks; see note below –Ed.) – raise their eyes to the young Muslims through you (i.e., participants at the conference) with much hope, faith, and resolution. Together with you, we need to determine this meeting as a spark for an Islamic Intifada of young people, which was ignited by Palestinian national symbol Ahed Tamimi (i.e., Palestinian teen who assaulted Israeli soldiers; see note below), and the blood of 26 Martyrs (Shahids) since Dec. 6 [2017] (i.e., when Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital), and 1,500 prisoners, thousands of wounded, and the sighs of their mothers and families. May this meeting be the start of an intifada, a popular, Islamic, peaceful revolution to stand against the American arrogance and one-sided aggression against the Arabs, Muslims, Christians, and their holy sites.”
Jibril Rajoub also holds the following positions: Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA).
On Jan. 25, 2018, US President Donald Trump held a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Referring to how he officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Dec. 6, 2017, Trump told Netanyahu: "We took Jerusalem off the table.” When asked by a reporter whether Jerusalem being “off the table" meant that none of it would be part of a future Palestinian state, Trump refused to elaborate, responding: "Next question." Trump also said that the US would stop providing financial aid to the PA if they did not return to negotiations with Israel.
The PA and its leaders consider all of the Temple Mount an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Therefore they view any presence of Jews on the mount as an “invasion.” It should be noted that Jews who visit the Temple Mount only enter some sections of the open areas, and do not enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock.
The mention of “ defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque in July 2017” refers to Arab riots and terror attacks in response to Israeli security measures at the Temple Mount, including metal detectors at the entrances, following an attack there on July 14, 2017, in which 2 Israeli border police officers were murdered by 3 Israeli Arab terrorists. On July 24, 2017, Israel decided to remove the metal detectors and security cameras it had placed at the site. The PA continued to demand that all measures including inspections at the entrances be removed, and Palestinians continued to riot. On July 27, 2017, PA religious leaders declared that all Israeli measures had been removed.
Ahed Tamimi – Teenage female Palestinian who attacked Israeli soldiers on Dec. 15, 2017, near the village of Nabi Saleh, north of Ramallah, together with her 21-year-old female cousin, Nour Tamimi, and her mother, Namiran. Ahed was later arrested and charged with several counts, including aggravated assault, hindering a soldier in the line of duty, incitement, and rock throwing. After her arrest, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called her father Bassem Tamimi to praise her and her family's participation in "peaceful" protests. Ahed Tamimi has a history of assaulting Israeli soldiers.
Fatah Central Committee Secretary and Head of the PLO Supreme Council for Sport and Youth Affairs Jibril Rajoub: “What American President [Donald Trump] did when he omitted Jerusalem with a single stroke from the final resolution issues provides a recipe for continuation of the war and adds fuel to the fire, and this is inappropriate conduct. It is inappropriate that a country that is supposed to be a patron of peace takes a side in the conflict. This step has negated its [America’s] role as the patron, and turned it into a partner in the aggression against our people and its rights, which have been recognized by international laws. The acts of political bullying that we are experiencing today through the removal of Jerusalem and the refugees from the negotiations and giving a free hand to the monstrosity of settlement, which will eliminate the possibility of establishing a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state in accordance with the international decisions and according to what the Arab Initiative demands – this shameful political conduct brings the conflict back to square one and makes the war on terror a farce. The US, led by Trump, is working to cover up for the organized state terror that is being led by a government that includes extremist fanatics, while the actions of murdering and arresting children, destroying homes, and expropriating lands constitute the height of terror, which requires international intervention to restrain its wild behavior. The American actions that have turned the [peace] deal into a slap are meant to topple the hopes for peace in the region and in the world. After all, the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories is the first seed of terror that created the seeds of terror in the Arab region and the Middle East, in addition to the world’s inability to resolve this difficult problem and restore the right to its Palestinian owners. The official, settlement, rabbinic, and Jewish extremism is what feeds the phenomena of extremism in the region, through that which the settlers are committing with the support of the occupation government: arson, murder, expropriation, imprisonment, humiliation, and defilement of the sanctified places in Jerusalem – and especially the incessant invasions of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is thanks to American support and partnership…
The people of Jerusalem – who in July 2017 recorded epics of courage with their bared chests by defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem (refers to riots and terror attacks; see note below –Ed.) – raise their eyes to the young Muslims through you (i.e., participants at the conference) with much hope, faith, and resolution. Together with you, we need to determine this meeting as a spark for an Islamic Intifada of young people, which was ignited by Palestinian national symbol Ahed Tamimi (i.e., Palestinian teen who assaulted Israeli soldiers; see note below), and the blood of 26 Martyrs (Shahids) since Dec. 6 [2017] (i.e., when Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital), and 1,500 prisoners, thousands of wounded, and the sighs of their mothers and families. May this meeting be the start of an intifada, a popular, Islamic, peaceful revolution to stand against the American arrogance and one-sided aggression against the Arabs, Muslims, Christians, and their holy sites.”
Jibril Rajoub also holds the following positions: Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA).
On Jan. 25, 2018, US President Donald Trump held a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Referring to how he officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Dec. 6, 2017, Trump told Netanyahu: "We took Jerusalem off the table.” When asked by a reporter whether Jerusalem being “off the table" meant that none of it would be part of a future Palestinian state, Trump refused to elaborate, responding: "Next question." Trump also said that the US would stop providing financial aid to the PA if they did not return to negotiations with Israel.
The PA and its leaders consider all of the Temple Mount an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Therefore they view any presence of Jews on the mount as an “invasion.” It should be noted that Jews who visit the Temple Mount only enter some sections of the open areas, and do not enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock.
The mention of “ defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque in July 2017” refers to Arab riots and terror attacks in response to Israeli security measures at the Temple Mount, including metal detectors at the entrances, following an attack there on July 14, 2017, in which 2 Israeli border police officers were murdered by 3 Israeli Arab terrorists. On July 24, 2017, Israel decided to remove the metal detectors and security cameras it had placed at the site. The PA continued to demand that all measures including inspections at the entrances be removed, and Palestinians continued to riot. On July 27, 2017, PA religious leaders declared that all Israeli measures had been removed.
Ahed Tamimi – Teenage female Palestinian who attacked Israeli soldiers on Dec. 15, 2017, near the village of Nabi Saleh, north of Ramallah, together with her 21-year-old female cousin, Nour Tamimi, and her mother, Namiran. Ahed was later arrested and charged with several counts, including aggravated assault, hindering a soldier in the line of duty, incitement, and rock throwing. After her arrest, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called her father Bassem Tamimi to praise her and her family's participation in "peaceful" protests. Ahed Tamimi has a history of assaulting Israeli soldiers.