Trump's biased position would thwart Palestinian cause

As Donald Trump took office as the 45th President of the United States, Palestinian analysts worried his biased position in favor of Israel would hinder the Palestinian cause, making the dream of an independent state even dimmer.

Mohammad Daraghma, a Palestinian political analyst from the West Bank told Xinhua that the Palestinians feel so much concerned since Trump was elected as the new president of the United States due to his positions that serve the interest of Israel.

"Trump, who hasn't yet made himself clear of a U.S. foreign policy, seems for the Palestinians a mysterious man," said Daraghma, adding that his biased position would harm the Palestinian cause.

Last bilateral direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians came to an end in 2014. The U.S. sponsored talks made no progress in all the outstanding issues, such as Jewish settlements and borders for future Palestinian state.

"The Palestinian cause has been thwarted due to the latest U.S. policies towards the peace talks, the blowing up situation in the Arab world and the internal Palestinian split and conflict," said Daraghma, adding "having a more radical U.S. President would make it more difficult for the Palestinian cause."

Political analyst Hani el-Masri told Xinhua that Trump's position towards the Palestinians only serves Israel's interests, especially his intention to move U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and rejecting a Palestinian state.

Israel Radio reported earlier that a U.S. crew had lately checked the site where the U.S. embassy will be in Jerusalem. Israel insists that all Jerusalem is its eternal capital, while the Palestinians say they want the eastern part of the city, occupied in 1967, as the capital of their independent state.

Earlier, Palestinian officials had threatened that moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem would oblige the Palestinians to reconsider the recognition of the state of Israel.

According to el-Masri, the more dangerous thing is Trump's aides are more radical than himself, mainly those who led his campaign during the elections and the others he appointed in his government.

He warned that this would give Israel a free hand to act freely without fear from any American or international reactions. "This would keep the door open for annexing more Palestinian lands and Israel will keep relying on the American veto in the United Nations against any bid or drafts of resolutions."

However, el-Masri thinks that so far, no one knows what would be Trump's position towards the peace process, adding "it is possible that Trump would change a lot in the U.S. policy."

source: Xinhua