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Palestinians protest against Kerry’s regional tour

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Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank have held demonstrations against the regional visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry, urging the acting Palestinian Authority chief to shun any US-brokered talks with Israel.

During the demonstrations, which took place on Wednesday, the protesters called on the acting Palestinian Authority (PA) chief Mahmoud Abbas to withdraw from the so-called peace talks.

The protesters also condemned the Israeli regime’s plan to build new illegal settler units in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

“We are trying to show the world that we are against the Israeli policies in building more settlements,” said a protester during the rally.

On the same day, Kerry held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the so-called peace negotiations.

Netanyahu accused the Palestinians of making “artificial crises” and “walking away” from what he called a “historic decision to make peace.”

This comes after senior PA officials said there will be no direct talks with Israel if it keeps on expanding illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Kerry has also met with the acting PA chief in the West Bank.

Following his talks, the US state secretary said, “We consider now, and have always considered, the settlements to be illegitimate.”

Israel has recently freed 104 Palestinian prisoners, as part of a deal for the resumption of the talks with the PA, but it has also announced plans to build about 5,000 more illegal settler units on the occupied Palestinian land.

Earlier this month, a large number of Palestinians from different political movements took to the streets of the West Bank city of Ramallah to call on the PA to pull out of the talks with Israel.

Supporters of all Palestinian factions, including the Islamic resistance movement Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, gathered in central Arafat Square to protest against the talks.

The protesters said the talks are useless and Abbas must withdraw from the negotiations.

They also demanded the PA to take the regime in Tel Aviv to the International Criminal Court for its crimes against the people of Palestine.

The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle to efforts made for the establishment of peace in the Middle East.

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