Palestinian Leader Suggests U.S. Favors Israel, Calling it “Strategic Ally of our Enemy”

Palestinian leader Nabil Shaath told a conference in Bethlehem on Tuesday that while the Palestinians need the United States because “we can’t fight a war against Israel,” Palestinians must also keep in mind that “America is the strategic ally of our enemy and we must never lose sight of that. The United States has turned international organizations into impotents. During the Gaza war it was the United States that provided phosphorus bombs to Israel. America does not run Israel. Israel runs America.” Shaath also accused American Jews who are elected officials as having an inordinate amount of influence in Congress, suggesting that, “two or three Jewish senators can manipulate the U.S. Congress.” According to Shaath, “Cheney is the enemy.” As for the Israeli government, Shaath said it is “scared of the idea that Washington might take a little neutrality in the dispute.” Meanwhile, in Brussels, Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud ‘Abbas deflated anticipation that a return to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks was near, as Quartet envoy Tony Blair recently said. During talks with Belgian lawmakers, ‘Abbas called the creation of a Palestinian state “a vital interest for Israel” but reiterated his refusal to return to the table until an absolute freeze on building in Israeli post-1967 communities is in place.