How one West Financial institution political chief feels about President Trump’s Gaza feedback : NPR

SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

Even judging by the requirements that he set throughout his time on the Nationwide stage, President Donald Trump’s assertion this previous week that the U.S. would take possession of the Gaza Strip was surprising. Throughout a press convention with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump mentioned the 2 leaders had talked about relocating some 1.8 million Palestinians and leveling then completely rebuilding Gaza.

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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we are going to do a job with it, too. We’ll personal it.

DETROW: The announcement drew condemnation from leaders around the globe, and a few senior Trump aides have tried to stroll again elements of the plan. However ought to the plan or one thing prefer it go ahead, Gaza would change, as would its relationship with the opposite Palestinian territory, the West Financial institution.

For one perspective on this, we now have referred to as Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, who’s a political chief within the West Financial institution. He is the overall secretary of the Palestinian Nationwide Initiative and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. He joins us now from Ramallah within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution. Welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

MUSTAFA BARGHOUTI: Thanks a lot. Thanks.

DETROW: You, together with others – you publicly condemned President Trump’s proposal. I am curious. How are you and your colleagues in West Financial institution management speaking about this this week? What are you occupied with?

BARGHOUTI: Effectively, as I mentioned in a number of interviews, President Trump’s proposal is not only harmful to the opportunity of peace on this area, however it’s really additionally felony.

DETROW: How so?

BARGHOUTI: As a result of what he referred to as for are two struggle crimes – the primary crime is that he referred to as for ethnic cleaning of the Palestinian individuals who stay in Gaza, who’re a part of the Palestinian individuals normally. And second, he referred to as for the theft of the land of Gaza Strip and to take it over. This land belongs to the individuals who stay there, belongs to the individuals who lived there for hundreds of years and who’ve their desires, their historical past, their civilization, their belongings, and he simply wish to take it over.

DETROW: As is usually the case when President Trump makes a press release like this, there was loads of evaluation that maybe he did not really imply that, however maybe he was attempting to set the framework for negotiations to result in some type of end result. You, as any person very near this challenge – I am questioning what you make of that evaluation and that pondering and simply type of, once more, what the conversations you’ve got had with different leaders are about what comes subsequent now that this proposal is on the market.

BARGHOUTI: We’re speaking concerning the president of america. I do not suppose he jokes when he speaks. And we’re speaking about essentially the most highly effective nation on the planet. To be advocate of violation of worldwide legislation in such a fashion is absolutely shameful.

DETROW: What, to you, is one of the best various? What, to you, is one of the best path ahead in Gaza? – as a result of there isn’t any query there was widespread destruction in Gaza. A lot has been leveled, destroyed. So many individuals have died. How would you rebuild?

BARGHOUTI: In my view, the choice is, to start with, to guarantee that the ceasefire shall proceed, that Israel wouldn’t be allowed to return to struggle, after which there needs to be a global Arab Muslim coalition that would offer assist to the individuals of Gaza to reconstruct and rebuild Gaza and provoke a real peace method answer that enables Palestinians to be free from this horrible occupation so that everyone can get pleasure from safety, whether or not we’re speaking about Palestinians or Israelis.

DETROW: At this second in time, who’s in command of Gaza? Who do you suppose ought to have the accountability to rebuild, to plan for its future? – as a result of in case you have a look at public assist within the Gaza strip, it looks like many individuals there would really like Hamas to stay in cost.

BARGHOUTI: I do know, however Hamas informed us frankly and overtly and clearly, in our conferences of all Palestinian teams which befell in Beijing, that they’re able to – to not be within the authorities of Gaza and to not be the federal government of Gaza. And the answer is easy. I personally drafted it in settlement with all of the representatives of the 14 events, which is to create a nationwide consensus Palestinian authorities, which consists primarily of impartial professionals who shall be accepted by all people and shall be cooperated with by all people.

However will probably be a authorities for each West Financial institution and Gaza in order that no person would separate Gaza from the West Financial institution and proceed to kill the thought of a Palestinian impartial state, so a nationwide consensus authorities that will finally put together without spending a dime democratic elections which we did not have since 20 years. And I guarantee you, if we now have elections – we’re utilizing proportional system, so if we now have elections, no single celebration could have majority. That is for certain. All polls present that.

So in my view, that is the answer, a nationwide consensus authorities. And no person needs to proceed this struggle. No person needs to return to struggle. And this authorities will be accountable, in cooperation with the Arab governments and hopefully with many individuals within the worldwide group, of reconstructing Gaza and rebuilding it. After which, in my view, the entire world should train strain on Israel to finish occupation. That is the street, the trail, that was by no means tried, ending occupation and permitting Palestinians to be free from occupation and construct our personal future independently with freedom.

DETROW: Should you may communicate on to President Trump proper now, what would you say to him?

BARGHOUTI: I’d say to him, if you wish to get Nobel Peace Prize, the street is easy. Stress Israel to finish occupation. Permit Palestinians to be free. You might be most welcome to convey worldwide troops if you would like and put them on the borders between the Palestinian state and Israel to offer safety for everyone. Then you will get Nobel Peace Prize. However in case you proceed to advocate ethnic cleaning of the Palestinian individuals, of Gaza, and proceed to be completely biased to Israel in the best way and method you might be, you may be described in historical past as a struggle felony, not as a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

I shall be frank with him. I feel he likes individuals to be trustworthy and frank with him. It is both peace by ending Israeli occupation and permitting Palestinians to have self-determination and freedom, or it is struggle crime. That’s the actuality of what we see immediately.

DETROW: That is Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, normal secretary of the Palestinian Nationwide Initiative and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Thanks a lot.

BARGHOUTI: Thanks. Take care.

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