Letters to Obama from Palestine

During Obama’s visit to Israel/Palestine, the President spent a very little time in Palestine, going to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and meeting with Palestinian President Abbas in Ramallah.

Weather conditions did not allow President Obama to fly by helicopter to Bethlehem (the Khamsin winds were blowing) so he made his way on segregated roads through checkpoints cleared for him and got a glimpse of the Wall Israel has built in and around Bethlehem. President Obama met with Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun, an Orthodox Christian, who gave him a letter:

The letter, according to Baboun, is of special importance because it was from the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

"Bethlehem isn't living in peace despite the fact that the city was a source of peace to the whole world," the letter read, according to the mayor of Bethlehem.

She explained that the letter was enclosed with a gift to Obama from the Bethlehem city council -- a sculpture of the birth of Jesus on an olive branch.

Baboun told Ma'an that her letter tackled the issue of Israel's separation wall which surrounds Bethlehem, and Israeli restrictions on construction and development in the small city.

Obama also met with Greek Orthodox Patriarch III at the Church of the Nativity, which has been nominated by Palestine and included in the Endangered World Heritage Sites by UNESCO against the wishes of both Israel and America. The Patriarch asked Obama to be different from other American Presidents and make peace. Obama replied: “I will do my best. Pray on my behalf so I can do that."

In Ramallah, President Abbas’ grandchildren handed letters to Obama. Firas Abbas gave Obama this handwritten letter:

Dear Mr. President,

There are 68 kids in Israeli prisons. 10 of them are my age, 10 years old. 15 of them are Malia’s age. 20 of them are Sasha’s age. Please get them out. Please make Israel stop arresting kids.

Thank you, Faris Abbas.

Fourteen year-old Ziad Abbas handed Obama a type-written letter that said in part:

Mr President, I trust you understand what is happening here. Everyone knows  you have the power of change. I think this is the time you do your BIG move. It’s time you show and provide Palestinians and all human beings with justice and peace. Please don’t let us down, almost 11 million Palestinians are waiting for an action by your commands by the leader of the strongest country in the world.

Mr President, the occupation we are under is the last occupation in the whole world. Your Excellency,  We have a dream too and this is why we are here today.

Ziad Abbas

The quieter and more critical and even hostile reception received by President Obama underscores the frustrations and disappointments of Palestinians. Crowds of protesters were kept away in both Ramallah and Bethlehem from President Obama’s location by Palestinian and Israeli security. Those crowds showed how upset many in Palestine are by America’s continued and unconditional support of Israel which is responsible for a brutal occupation and denial/violation of human rights of Palestinians. Twenty years after the signing of the Oslo Accords, Israel continues to take Palestinian lands to build new settlements, it has tripled the number of settlers and the security regime has only become more restrictive and brutal, despite the cooperation of the Palestinian Authority with Israel and the absence of violent resistance from the West Bank. The message Palestinians are hearing is that US would expend little effort to shift the status quo. Instead of taking a more even-handed approach, the US will continue to provide aid, weapons, and diplomatic support to Israel and not use its considerable diplomatic or financial clout to persuade Israel to change its behaviour towards Palestinians.