This week’s demonstrations were the bloodiest to date and occurred as the US embassy in Israel officially moved to Jerusalem on Monday, to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the creation of the modern state of Israel.
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On Wednesday, Guatemala followed the USA lead, festively opening its new Jerusalem mission with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales saying his country was bringing a message of “love, peace and fraternity” to Israel. Israel has sought to fend off global criticism over Monday’s violence, with the United States strongly backing its close ally and blaming the deaths on Hamas.
“I look forward to assessing with you the practical ways. that we can advance this friendship and this alliance”, Netanyahu said. “We call again on the involved parties to show restraint and abandon moves that may provoke further escalation”, the diplomat added.
At St. Joseph Parish in Jifna, West Bank, May 14, Father Firas Aridah tolled bells at noon to mourn those injured and killed in clashes, to mark the commemoration of the day Palestinians call al-Naqba – their catastrophe – and to lament the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.
Israel occupied the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 1967 and later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the global community.
The Palestinian Authority condemned Hungary, Romania and Czech Republic for blocking a statement by the European Union that condemns the move of the USA embassy to Jerusalem.
Palestinians have held demonstrations on the border since March 30 for what they call the right of return.
More than 50 Palestinians were killed and more than 2000 wounded by Israeli snipers during yesterday’s horrific violence in Gaza.
Thick black smoke billowed from burning tires as Palestinians threw stones at Israeli troops, who responded with tear gas in the Palestinian city of Ramallah on Tuesday. The military said 14 of those killed Monday were actively involved in carrying out attacks.
The move came as Israel and Turkey traded tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions after the deadly violence along Israel’s border with Gaza. “They have rocket armament, personal armament and another kind of armament – their children and women”.
The comments sparked a widespread debate about whether Israel or the vociferously anti-Israel Hamas, which claimed the victims as their own martyrs, was to blame for the deaths.
Some nations at Tuesday’s Council meeting condemned Israel for using force against the Palestinians, while liberal media fueled the narrative that innocent and peaceful protesters were being attacked.
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The Palestinian Authority summoned its ambassadors to the Czech Republic, Romania, Austria and Hungary for consultations after those countries attended inaugural celebrations for the U.S. Embassy, according to Amal Jadou, the assistant minister for European Affairs at the Palestinian Foreign Ministry. President Trump made sure it happened. “So, Israel or any other nation-if they’re a sovereign nation-should be allowed to defend themselves”.
