JERUSALEM – The Obama administration has encouraged "resistance" by Palestinians to protest Israel's presence in eastern Jerusalem, a senior Palestinian Authority official claimed to WND. The senior PA official, speaking from Ramallah on condition of anonymity, said that in recent meetings with U.S. envoys to the region, the American diplomats supported and encouraged the concept of Palestinian protests to pressure Israel into evacuating eastern sections of Jerusalem. The PA official's claim follows a meeting in Jordan last week between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and George Mitchell, Obama's envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At a press conference immediately following the meeting, Abbas declared the Palestinian "right" to "resistance" against Israel. The U.S. has come down hard on a decision by the Jerusalem municipality to approve 1,600 new homes in Ramat Shlomo, an already-existing Jewish community in eastern Jerusalem. The decision was made public during Vice President Joe Biden's visit to the region earlier this month. The Palestinians claim eastern Jerusalem as their future capital, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear he does not intend to give up the Jewish sections of the city. Netanyahu has stated that he had not been aware of the decision to build in Ramat Shlomo and that the announcement was not timed to coincide with Biden's visit. Still, Obama senior adviser David Axelrod called the Ramat Shlomo announcement an "insult." Other administration officials called the Jewish neighborhood expansion an impediment to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Yesterday, Netanyahu's office made public a U.S. demand for a four-month freeze of Jewish construction in Jewish neighborhoods of eastern Jerusalem. In exchange for the freeze, the U.S. said it would coax Abbas to hold direct negotiations with Netanyahu regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Palestinians have been engaged in riots and street violence targeting Jews in Jerusalem. Two weeks ago, Israel rededicated an ancient synagogue in the main Jewish quarter of the Old City. The structure had been badly damaged by Jordanian forces that overran the Jewish Quarter in the 1948 Middle East war. The Hurva synagogue is hundreds of feet from the Western Wall and is in no way connected to the Temple Mount. Israel did not conduct heavy construction on the synagogue, a structure that had been in the Jewish quarter since the second century. Still, the PA and Hamas claimed Israel's rededication ceremony was a threat to the al-Aqsa Mosque. Hamas called for a "day of rage," prompting Palestinians throughout eastern Jerusalem to hurl stones at police. There were also reports of rocks and Molotov cocktails aimed at Israeli buses. If you would like to sound off on this issue, participate in today's WND Poll. Related offers: Is Israel already done for? Find out in "The Late Great State of Israel" Definitive work on Mideast – available only here! "Everlasting Hatred: The Roots of Jihad" "Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict" Perfect gift! Compass that points to Jerusalem Previous stories: U.S. Jewish group demands apology from Hillary Americans condemn Obama's rudeness, reach out to Israel Obama's policies slammed as 'racist' The eyes of Obama are everywhere – even on Temple Mount Jews to world: 'Help non-Muslims pray on Temple Mount' Temple Mount riots part of Arab agenda? Obama's policies helped spark Temple Mount riots? What Temple? Fatah says 'only a Muslim holy site' Jewish tourists attacked in Temple Mount clashes Did Obama call on Israel to vacate Temple Mount? Obama working against Israel on Capitol Hill? 'Obama can create headache for Netanyahu' Netanyahu pardons terrorists who killed Israelis Netanyahu not extreme on Jewish construction American government website 'ignores Jews' U.S. summons Israeli ambassador again Netanyahu to U.S.: Israel will govern itself, thank you Media misleading on Jews evicting Arabs from Jerusalem U.S. 'partner' defends 'right' to resist Israeli 'occupation' 'Peace partner' boasts: We never recognized Israel 'Peace partner' affirms right to 'resistance' 'Peace partner' set to affirm 'resistance' against Israel Obama backtracks from support for Israel 'growth' Hamas sees 'signals' Obama will talk 'Differences in approach' between Obama, Netanyahu Has Obama cut off information to Israel? Obama will 'quickly' give Palestinians state Obama's plan for Mideast peace: Strip Israel bare Obama officials working against Netanyahu? 'Obama assassination plot halted' Hamas: We're counting on Obama's 'change' Obama official wants talks with terrorists 'Deep concern' Obama ready to talk to Hamas Hillary: U.S. funds won't reach Hamas Israel worried Obama may cut aid Hamas: Kerry's visit 'big sign' U.S. will engage
Shock claim: Obama encouraged Palestinian 'resistance'
Violence targeting Jews aimed at pressuring Israel into splitting capital
Thursday, 1 April 2010
FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU
Posted: March 31, 2010
9:55 pm Eastern
By Aaron Klein
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
Aaron Klein, WorldNetDaily's senior staff reporter and Jerusalem bureau chief, is known for his regular interviews with Mideast terror leaders and his popular segments on America's top radio programs. His newly released book is "The Late Great State of Israel: How Enemies Within and Without Threaten the Jewish Nation's Survival." Follow Klein on Twitter. Follow Klein on Facebook.
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