Palestinian groups criticise US 'illusion'

National and Islamist Palestinian groups in the West Bank have vowed to confront US pressure of direct negotiations with Israel, describing such attempts as an 'illusion.' The groups have called for a renewal of Palestinian unity, and opposition to Israel's plot to appease Palestinians by establishing a temporary border state based on so-called economic peace. Following a meeting in Ramallah on Sunday, the forces urged the Palestinian Authority (PA) to register the state of Palestine with various international bodies, and highlight the Palestinian cause at the UN. Delegates claimed that the recent visits of US Secretary of State John Kerry  to the region "will not discourage the Palestinian people from continuing their struggle," describing Kerry's attempts as an "illusion" aimed at dragging the Palestinians into negotiations on Israeli terms, "to increase colonisation of the Palestinian territory, confiscate its land, in addition to enforcing racist laws that have forced people to free from the occupied territory since 1948." The factions said that the US and the international community must declare Israel as an "occupying country," and pressurise it to respect international law by giving the Palestinian people their right to return. "The Palestinian state should not deal with any ideas or suggestions that are part of the American campaign, selling illusions about just and total peace with the occupation government led  by Benjamin Netanyahu, which has preached racist and radical policies since 1948," the statement concluded.