Barghouthi: Obama has double standards

The Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Mustafa Barghouthi, said that President Barack Obama showed unacceptable double standards in the speech he gave in New York last night. Al-Barghouti said in a statement on Thursday that Obama constantly speaks of freedom and human rights, but backs away when the issue is related to the Palestinians. He noted that Obama’s attitude shows that the US opposes the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Barghouti called on undecided UN member states to support the Palestinian bid in the name of freedom and democracy. He urged them to not be influenced by US and Israeli politicking. He stressed that the UN bid should mark the beginning of a unified strategy based on the popular resistance and national unity. He hoped that a movement of international solidarity would be established that would impose sanctions on Israel. On the ground, Israeli forces stormed Al-Arka village and Barkin in the West Bank on Thursday. Palestinian sources said that the Israeli army deployed throughout olive groves, and stationed their forces in the residential areas. They added that settlers of Mabu Dothan settlement were also spread in throughout Yaabad town and Bartaa village. The Israeli army also stormed Shawawrah, a village east of Bethlehem on Thursday. Security sources have said that Israeli soldiers broke into two houses belong to Issa Rabai'a and Qadr Aldaraawi. The houses were searched, but the soldiers withdrew without arresting