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Israeli regime not in favor of peace with Palestinians: Analyst

Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces clash in the West Bank village of Tuqua on October 8, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

Press TV has conducted an interview with Alison Weir, executive director of If Americans knew from Washington, to ask for her insight on the Israelis’ policy of inciting tension in the occupied lands.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: It’s interesting as it is, Miss Weir, if anytime there are tensions the first as whole site to be closed as the al-Aqsa Mosque. For Israel to call itself a democracy, why is that the religious freedom is the first thing to be sacrificed?

Weir: Well, as you know … it is because Israel was created to be the Jewish state. It is what some people call it theocracy, other people call it an ethnocracy, but it’s very much based on being a Jewish state. So, religion unfortunately is often for what it does. It’s not over religion, but it certainly plays a role.

Press TV: And, Miss. Weir, of course we’ve heard Mr. Netanyahu also talking about the fact that Muslim leaders are inciting the situation … How do you see that?

Weir: Well, I see it the opposite. I see it as Netanyahu is inciting this situation. This began with Israeli governmental incitement at al-Aqsa Mosque by restricting parts of it, by changing the street names in the old city of a very holy city to Muslims and to Christians and Jews, changing the status quo there in ways very upsetting the people. So, this began back in September. Christian leaders in the area condemned that as well as Muslims. So, the inciting of the violence as just about always came from the Israeli side not from the Muslim side.

Press TV: And so, how much of this, Miss Weir, do you think has to do with Mahmoud Abbas’ speech for example at the UN General Assembly? Many people said that him talking about things like the Oslo accords must have angered the Israelis and they’re acting out now?

Weir: Well, I think that the Israeli government is not in favor of peace and some sort of compromise. So, even though many Israeli citizens are there, the government is not. So, they don’t like the advances that the Palestinians have made ... Palestine was recognized by over hundred different countries around the world, that the Palestinian flag is now at the UN. I think all of these are very upsetting to the hard pro-Israeli leaders that are in position of power now.


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