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The Palestinian Authority Supports China’s Right to Invade Taiwan
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is greeted by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang during a July 2017 visit to Beijing. Photo: Reuters/Mark Schiefelbein
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has once again made it clear that despite receiving billions of dollars in United States aid and ongoing funding from the Biden administration, the PA continues to ally itself with America’s enemies.
The latest reminder came this week, with Mahmoud Abbas rejecting Taiwan’s independence by “reaffirming its [PA] commitment to the one-China principle.”
Abbas further expressed explicit support for mainland China’s goal of occupying Taiwan:
The Palestinian Presidency underlined the significance of preserving China’s territorial integrity, including the status of Taiwan… [and] voiced its firm support for China’s right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, endorsing the reunification of the entire land of China, which includes Taiwan.”
[WAFA, official PA news agency, English edition, Jan. 13, 2024]
This is diametrically opposed to US policy. President Joe Biden said very clearly that the US would even go to war to defend Taiwan from China:
Biden: “If in fact anyone were to invade or take action against our NATO allies, we would respond. Same with Japan, same with South Korea, same with Taiwan.”
[ABC News, Aug. 19, 2021]
The PA regularly stresses its friendship with China. On the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Abbas expressed the Palestinian “admiration” for China and its “achievements”:
[Abbas] praised the achievements of China, which is continuing its victorious journey that is full of successes in all fields, while preserving its achievements and its leading and strengthening position in the world. Therefore, its journey has justly received our admiration and the admiration of [the world] states.
[WAFA, official PA news agency, July 23, 2023]
Earlier in the year, Abbas had “expressed his great pride in the historical and firm ties between the two states and the two peoples, which are based on deep friendship, solidarity, and cooperation.” [emphasis added]
[WAFA, official PA news agency, English edition, June 14, 2023]
As opposed to his admiration for China, Mahmoud Abbas, who never hesitates to beg for and receive hundreds of millions of dollars in US aid, has publicly said he does not trust the US:
Mahmoud Abbas: “We don’t trust America, and you [Vladimir Putin] know our position. We don’t trust them and don’t rely on them, and we won’t accept under any circumstances to America being the sole party in resolving the problem.”
[YouTube channel of Cairo-based Alghad TV, Oct. 13, 2022]
One of Abbas’ advisors recently expressed the PA’s view of the US, presenting it as the enemy not only of Palestinians but of the entire Arab and Muslim worlds:
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations, Mahmoud Al-Habbash:
“America is taking care of Israel and supporting it. It considers Israel as its arm in the Middle East and the Arab region. America considers Israel as an arm with which it hits whichever Arabs that it wants, and it takes action through it to sabotage the inter-Arab relations, the Arab-Islamic relations, and the inter-Islamic relations. It takes action to sabotage the entire region and turn it into a game in the hands of the US.”
Question: Do you think that the US is no longer a fair mediator to resolve the Palestinian problem?
Al-Habbash: Fundamentally it was not a fair mediator for resolving the Palestinian problem even for one day. We must not deceive ourselves that the US will one day become a fair mediator between Palestine and Israel.”
The Palestinian Authority-US relationship is truly unique: The PA promotes hatred and disdain for the US for years under all administrations, maligns the American worldview, rejects America’s allies while embracing America’s enemies, rewards and glorifies terrorist murderers of Israelis and Americans, and teaches its children that its goal is the destruction of American ally, Israel.
Yet the PA continues to receive massive financial support from the US. What drives the US to continue funding an entity so antithetical to its values?
The author is the founder and executive director of Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article first appeared.
The post The Palestinian Authority Supports China’s Right to Invade Taiwan first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Germany’s Scholz Rebukes Vance, Defends Europe’s Stance on Hate Speech and Far Right

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks to the media after he met former prisoners following the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West in decades, at the military area of Cologne Bonn Airport in Cologne, Germany, August 1, 2024. Photo: Christoph Reichwein/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a strong rebuke on Saturday to US Vice President JD Vance’s attack on Europe’s stance toward hate speech and the far right, saying it was not right for others to tell Germany and Europe what to do.
Vance lambasted European leaders on Friday, the first day of the Munich Security Conference, accusing them of censoring free speech and criticizing German mainstream parties’ “firewall” against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
“That is not appropriate, especially not among friends and allies. We firmly reject that,” Scholz told the conference on Saturday, adding there were “good reasons” not to work with the AfD.
The anti-immigration party, currently polling at around 20% ahead of Germany’s February 23 national election, has pariah status among other major German parties in a country with a taboo about ultranationalist politics because of its Nazi past.
“Never again fascism, never again racism, never again aggressive war. That is why an overwhelming majority in our country opposes anyone who glorifies or justifies criminal National Socialism,” Scholz said, referring to the ideology of Adolf Hitler’s 1933-45 Nazi regime.
Vance met on Friday with the leader of AfD, after endorsing the party as a political partner — a stance Berlin dismissed as unwelcome election interference.
Referring more broadly to Vance’s criticism of Europe’s curtailing of hate speech, which he has likened to censorship, Scholz said: “Today’s democracies in Germany and Europe are founded on the historic awareness and realization that democracies can be destroyed by radical anti-democrats.
“And this is why we’ve created institutions that ensure that our democracies can defend themselves against their enemies, and rules that do not restrict or limit our freedom but protect it.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot added his voice to the defense of Europe’s stance on hate speech.
“No one is required to adopt our model but no one can impose theirs on us,” Barrot said on X from Munich. “Freedom of speech is guaranteed in Europe.”
UKRAINE
The prospect of talks to end the Ukraine-Russia war had been expected to dominate the annual Munich conference after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week, but Vance barely mentioned Russia or Ukraine in his speech to the gathering on Friday.
Instead, he said the threat to Europe that worried him most was not Russia or China but what he called a retreat from fundamental values of protecting free speech – as well as immigration, which he said was “out of control” in Europe.
Many conference delegates watched Vance’s speech in stunned silence. There was little applause as he delivered his remarks.
Asked by the panel moderator if he thought there was anything in Vance’s speech worth reflecting on, Scholz drew laughter and applause in the crowd when he responded, in a deadpan manner: “You mean all these very relevant discussions about Ukraine and security in Europe?”
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Trump Team to Start Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in Saudi Arabia in Coming Days, Politico Reports

US Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) speaks on Day 1 of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, July 15, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar
Senior officials from US President Donald Trump’s administration will start peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, Politico reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the plan.
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, the report said. Special envoy for Ukraine-Russia talks, Keith Kellogg, will not be in attendance, according to the report.
The post Trump Team to Start Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in Saudi Arabia in Coming Days, Politico Reports first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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UN Peacekeeping Mission Deputy Commander Injured After Convoy Attacked in Beirut

FILE PHOTO: A UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicle is seen next to piled up debris at Beirut’s port, Lebanon October 23, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
The outgoing deputy force commander of the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) in Lebanon was injured on Friday after a convoy taking peacekeepers to Beirut airport was “violently attacked,” UNIFIL said.
The mission demanded a full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities and for all perpetrators to be brought to justice, it said in a statement.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack on Saturday, saying that security forces would not tolerate anyone who tries to destabilize the country, according to a statement from his office.
The French government also condemned the attack.
“France calls on the Lebanese security forces to guarantee the security of blue-helmet peacekeeping forces, and calls on Lebanon’s judicial authorities to shed all light on this unacceptable attack and to go after those responsible,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
Lebanon’s Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar called for an emergency meeting before noon on Saturday to discuss the security situation, Lebanese state news agency NNA reported.
“He affirmed the Lebanese government’s rejection of this assault that is considered a crime against UNIFIL forces,” NNA reported, citing the minister.
He also gave instructions to work on identifying the perpetrators and referring them to the relevant judicial authorities.
The minister told reporters on Saturday that more than 25 people had been detained for investigation over the attack.
The United States earlier condemned the attack. A State Department statement said the attack was carried out “reportedly by a group of Hezbollah supporters”, referring to the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon.
The post UN Peacekeeping Mission Deputy Commander Injured After Convoy Attacked in Beirut first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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