During a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority refrained from displaying the American flag behind U.S. officials, a move deemed “humiliating” by the United States.
After talks with Israeli officials in Tel Aviv, Mr. Blinken visited Ramallah on Wednesday and met with Mr. Abbas to discuss postwar plans for Gaza.
Surrounded by their entourage, the two men shook hands in front of a photo of Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock and a Palestinian flag.
The United States gives the Palestinian Authority hundreds of millions of dollars each year, but the Palestinians refuse to fly the Stars and Stripes flag.
They have no respect for America. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/7fRxiXo0qs
— Hananya Naftali (@hananyaNaftali) January 10, 2024
But what was notable was the absence of a US flag behind Mr. Blinken, especially in contrast to the flag of the Palestinian Authority (PA) behind Mr. Abbas. The only American flag that appeared was a small flag placed on the table between the two figures.
Can you see the missing American flag? 👇
The Palestinian Authority 🇵🇸 decided to humiliate itself in this way @SecBlinken Today in Ramallah.
The United States is doing everything in its power to support and finance the Palestinian Authority, and this is how these ungrateful people say “thank you”… pic.twitter.com/mwtJsBvd1M
— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) January 10, 2024
The move goes against common protocol that requires officials to raise the flags of the countries and organizations they represent during such diplomatic meetings.
After the meeting, Blinken said Said He trusts Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to “reform” the Palestinian Authority so that he can take over governance functions in the Gaza Strip upon the end of Israel's war against Hamas terrorists there.
The PA under President Abbas and his Fatah movement has long proven itself unviable as a peace partner due to actions and policies that directly contradict its objective of peacefully resolving conflicts.
Tuesday marked the 19th anniversary of Abbas's election as PA president. Abbas, who has served as Palestinian president for nearly 20 years despite a four-year term limit, leads the so-called “moderate” Palestinian faction, which espouses views similar to Hamas.
His security forces have participated in numerous deadly terrorist attacks against Israelis, and he himself has a history of communicating anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric.Governments and leaders around the world spoke out anger Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was not an anti-Semite, in a recent speech in which he claimed that European Jews of his time were killed not for their Jewish identity but for their “role in society.” Regarding the “horrible'' remark, “usury'' is included.
Despite frequent media claims, neither Mr. Abbas nor any of the groups he leads fall into the category of “moderates,” and the October 7 Hamas massacre involved torture, rape, executions, and abductions. It was the worst genocide against Jews since the Nazi Holocaust. Hundreds of Israeli civilians have received widespread support from Palestinian factions.
Except for Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. criminal Brutal October attack, 'moderate' Fatah expressed support and even I participated In it while the PA has Rejected We condemn the atrocities of Hamas and its groups.
The PA, which functions as an administrative organization established to govern the Palestinian territories (particularly Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank), refuses to fully recognize Israel and has a history of supporting terrorist activities against the Jewish state. There is. Promote anti-Israel sentiment through media and education.
Palestinian education is systematically controlled by the PA edify Children with hatred towards Israel and Jews. Textbooks and curricula across a variety of subjects delegitimize Israel's existence, demonize Jews, and incite violent struggle, without focusing on peace and coexistence.
We must go to war to prove that we are stronger than the Jews.
says a small Palestinian schoolgirl at a school in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/5XAVpZqKMJ
— Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 12, 2023
The PA has also consistently rejected all Israeli proposals for the state. Despite numerous proposals, starting with the attacks under the late PLO leader Arafat in the 1990s after the failed Oslo Accords, through the Second Intifada in the early 2000s, and ending with Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, All Israeli attempts to provide have been met with waves of fear. That started in 2005 and led to 18 years of rocket attacks.
Apart from governance issues such as corruption and authoritarian practices, the PA continues to name terrorists on public parks and monuments, thereby inciting terrorism against Israel and glorifying the murderers of Jews. .
After the October 7 massacre, the PA gave false testimony. claimed While the frenzied massacre was committed by the IDF, Ahmad Ruweidi, the PA ambassador to Iraq, appointed by President Abbas in September, claimed Israeli civilians killed in Hamas' unprecedented attack should not be considered innocent.
Also, recently in an official document published The PA outlined Friday's sermon calling on imams to incite violence and murder, citing religious scripture that tells Muslims to “fight the Jews” and “kill” all Jews.
A musical themed around violence was performed in April. broadcast He called on Pennsylvania television to fight Israelis “everywhere” with “blood and stones.”
PA also Assigned Approximately $2.8 million will be awarded to families of deceased Hamas terrorists as part of a program to compensate those involved in terrorist acts, with additional funds provided to families and imprisoned members.
Thank you to the Netherlands, which stopped aid to the PA due to its “pay for killing” policy. The Palestinian leadership must learn that there is a price to pay for terrorism. Thanks to my Dutch friend for making this decision! @KvanOosterom pic.twitter.com/azvt08DCyp
— Danny Danon (@dannydanon) November 21, 2019
The payments are part of the “Wages for Killing” initiative, officially known as the “Martyrs Fund,” which provides financial rewards for carrying out terrorist attacks, and for more destructive acts. Higher rewards are given.
The Israeli Supreme Court control The PA could be held responsible for terrorism and sued by the families of those killed in terrorist attacks as a result of its policies.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Like Hamas, the PA also calls for the complete end of the Israeli state, arguing that the difference between the two groups is nothing more than methodology.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden continues to push In cooperation with P.A. claim A largely failed two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the “only way” to ensure the long-term security of both Israelis and Palestinians in the new post-Hamas Gaza.
Additionally, U.S. officials continue to explore There is also the option that the PA could take control of Gaza again, but the implementation of this plan is hampered by the PA's historic struggles, including its expulsion from Gaza by Hamas in 2007, as well as problems with corruption, unpopularity, and declining international support. We are facing challenges such as:
Blinken did not say why he believed Abbas would reform the PA.
This is not the first time that the US flag has not been flown at a meeting between the two sides.same scene Appeared During a meeting with Prime Minister Abbas during a joint press conference in Ramallah in May 2021.
In October, Abbas cancel His meeting with President Joe Biden in Jordan was seen as a humiliating slight in the aftermath of a hospital explosion in Gaza that turned out to be the result of an accidental bombing by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @Joshua Klein.
