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Abbas’ Deputy says now is a good opportunity to disconnect from US, “They have not given us a thing”

Headline: “Al-Aloul: The US became a partner of the Israeli occupation after it recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital”


Al-Quds magazine met with Fatah Movement Central Committee member and Fatah Deputy Chairman Mahmoud Al-Aloul ‘Abu Jihad’ so that he could brief us on the recent developments in the current issues.

[Q:] ‘How do you assess the Palestinian political situation after [US President Donald] Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as "Israel's" capital?’

[Mahmoud Al-Aloul:] ‘Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a good opportunity for us to disconnect from the US, as we no longer have the least doubt that nothing good will come to the Palestinian people and the Arab nation from the US. After this step that it has taken, it is no longer [just] biased in favor of the Israeli occupation as we knew in the past, but rather it currently constitutes a partner to the occupation. Whoever looks at the relations with the US through all of the American administrations will find that we have nothing to lose, as they have not given us a thing. They have always made promises during elections and the presidential inauguration that have quickly dissipated due to the pressures of the Zionist lobby’…

[Q:] ‘There is much talk of the American president’s deal and the pressures that are being exerted on our leadership to make concessions. Could you explain to us what the nature of this deal is and what the essence of the concessions is?’

[Al-Aloul:] ‘…In our opinion, [Trump] doesn’t understand the value of Jerusalem in the eyes of the Palestinians, Arabs, and the entire world. Jerusalem is the cradle of Jesus, peace be upon him, and it is connected to Omar ibn Al-Khattib, peace be upon him, and Saladin. This is Jerusalem for whose sake [PA] President Yasser Arafat died as a Martyr (Shahid). This is Jerusalem of the Muslims, Christians, Arabs, and Palestinians, and no one can relinquish it, even if the conflict continues for hundreds of years.’”

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.

Omar ibn Al-Khattib - Caliph and one of the companions of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad

Saladin - Muslim leader and Sultan of Egypt and Syria who defeated the Christian crusaders and conquered Jerusalem in 1187

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