Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Targetting US Diplomats and Getting Paid for It?

Reported:-

A small crowd of Palestinian protesters accosted an American diplomatic delegation visiting the West Bank Tuesday, blocking a convoy of vehicles, chanting "shame on you" and hurling a shoe -- a deeply insulting gesture in Arab culture.  The Americans, including employees of the consulate in Jerusalem, were on their way to a U.S. reception in town of Ramallah meant to reaffirm cultural and educational ties with the Palestinians.

...The activists involved in the demonstration, which was organized on Facebook, called for a boycott of the U.S. reception. They held banners reading, "No for the American funds," "Veto America" and "Obama, your vision is shortsighted."  One man, dressed in a tie and sunglasses, spewed an English-language expletive at the convoy. A State Department official said employees of the American consulate in Jerusalem were among those caught up in the protest.

After a short delay, Palestinian police cleared a path for the American convoy to enter the resort where the reception took place. But several Palestinian invitees said they were intimidated by the protesters and backed out of the event at the last moment.

It gets better.  The Americans are financially supporting the protestors:-

Tami Rafedi, a 35-year-old Palestinian activist pursuing a Ph.D in Florida on a U.S. scholarship, said the action was meant to "send a message to America."  "You cannot stand against our national aspirations and you cannot blackmail us with your money," she said.

That's just 'rich', as the phrase goes.

Another incident.

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