Palestinian Arabs Planning Protests For Obama When He Visits Israel

Khaled Abu Toameh writes that Palestinians Plan "Warm" Welcome for Obama:

Pakistanis Burn Obama in Effigy

US President Barack Obama is coming to the Middle East later this month to explore the possibility of resuming peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

But while Obama is thinking of ways to revive the stalled peace talks, Palestinian activists say they are planning a "warm" welcome for him when he visits Ramallah or any other Palestinian city in the West Bank.

Palestinian Arabs feel let down after expecting the Obama administration would simply force Israel into further unilateral concessions without the need for negotiation.

Toameh notes that instead, after four years:

• Palestinian Arabs consider Obama's support for Israel to be one-sided.
• They are upset that Obama has not forced Israel to meet their demands
• They are disappointed that Obama no longer puts their cause at the top of his priorities
• They are angry at Obama for not supporting Abbas last year at the UN

And so the Palestinian Arabs -- who have received millions in unconditional aid from the US -- are planning different activities while Obama is in town:

• Anti-US demonstrations in Palestinian cities
• Blocking the roads leading to where Obama and Abbas will be meeting
• Setting fire to American flags and Obama's portrait
• Throwing shoes at Obama if he should show up near the Aqsa Mosque.

Read the whole thing.

It may not be clear how much of this is spontaneous and how much encouraged by the Abbas regime, but by the same token, if these protests get out of control, Obama can leave; Abbas, on the other hand, will have to deal with the repercussions -- especially if the crowds decide to copy Egypt.

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