Palestinian “activists” disrupt American delegation visiting the Bethlehem district following US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital
Headline: “Following the expulsion of an American delegation from Bethlehem, the American State Department said that it opposes the turn to violence as a means of expressing political positions”
“The American State Department responded in a statement to the expulsion of an American delegation that visited the Bethlehem district Chamber of Commerce and Industry this morning, Tuesday [Jan. 30, 2018], and said that it opposes the turn to violence as a means of expressing political positions.
The American State Department said in a notice from its spokesperson: ‘The program that the American Consulate General in Jerusalem organized in Bethlehem was thwarted by lawless protesters.’
According to the American State Department, this program is part of the long-term American assistance in creating economic opportunities for the Palestinians…
A group of Palestinian activists in Bethlehem this morning, Tuesday, expelled an American delegation that was visiting the Bethlehem district Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The activists broke into the Chamber of Commerce building and one of the halls in which a workshop of a group of senior American officials at the American consulate was being held and drove them out of the room. Afterwards, they threw eggs and tomatoes at the American consulate vehicles and hit the American diplomatic vehicles with their hands and feet while repeating calls condemning the American position…
The Fatah Movement secretary at the Aida refugee camp said that the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by Samir Hazboun, welcomed the American State Department delegation at its building. This decision contradicts the national decision that called not to welcome the Americans, whose President [Donald Trump] declared Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He added: ‘The Palestinian people will not welcome any American party.’”
US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.
“The American State Department responded in a statement to the expulsion of an American delegation that visited the Bethlehem district Chamber of Commerce and Industry this morning, Tuesday [Jan. 30, 2018], and said that it opposes the turn to violence as a means of expressing political positions.
The American State Department said in a notice from its spokesperson: ‘The program that the American Consulate General in Jerusalem organized in Bethlehem was thwarted by lawless protesters.’
According to the American State Department, this program is part of the long-term American assistance in creating economic opportunities for the Palestinians…
A group of Palestinian activists in Bethlehem this morning, Tuesday, expelled an American delegation that was visiting the Bethlehem district Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The activists broke into the Chamber of Commerce building and one of the halls in which a workshop of a group of senior American officials at the American consulate was being held and drove them out of the room. Afterwards, they threw eggs and tomatoes at the American consulate vehicles and hit the American diplomatic vehicles with their hands and feet while repeating calls condemning the American position…
The Fatah Movement secretary at the Aida refugee camp said that the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by Samir Hazboun, welcomed the American State Department delegation at its building. This decision contradicts the national decision that called not to welcome the Americans, whose President [Donald Trump] declared Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He added: ‘The Palestinian people will not welcome any American party.’”
US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.