PLO, Hamas call for Palestinian demonstrations against normalization deals

Palestinian leaders call for demonstrations against the “shameful” deals the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are set to sign with Israel.

Officials from both Gulf states are due to attend a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday to formalize ties with Israel, prompting Palestinian factions to unite in appeals for protest.

“We invite our population, in particular those in (Palestinian) refugee camps, to denounce these shameful agreements,” a statement reads, signed by groups including the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Gaza’s rulers Hamas.

The statement also calls for rallies outside embassies of the US, Israel, Bahrain and the UAE.

The deals with Israel were dubbed “peace for protection” by Saeb Erekat, PLO secretary-general.

“Some decision-makers now in the Arab world do believe that Arab national security metrics will depend on the protection of Israel,” he tells journalists on Sunday.

Erekat refers to Washington’s longstanding policy of ensuring Israel is militarily stronger than other countries in the Middle East.

Arab nations are not permitted “to have any superiority on Israel on any field,” notes Erekat.

— AFP

Palestinian men burn the exed out portraits of the Bahraini King, US President and Israeli Premier during a protest in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza Strip, on September 12, 2020. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)