While the visit of US President Barack Obama to Palestine and Israel attracted a great deal of Palestinian media attention, ordinary Palestinian people have been occupied with meeting the needs of their everyday life. The Palestinian political factions, on the other hand, have not been pleased with the American president’s visit and the negative position of the American administration toward the Palestinian cause.

Hamas expressed pessimism about Obama’s visit. Obama visited Ramallah, the city of Hamas’ rival, President Mahmoud Abbas. In a brief statement, Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ prime minister, said, “We do not expect that Obama’s visit would lead to any breakthrough in the political equation on the ground. We do not believe that the American policy will help end the occupation. On the contrary, Washington seeks to consolidate and legalize settlements under the banner of peace.”

Haniyeh warned the Palestinian Authority against returning to the negotiating table with Israel under US pressure. “The PA should realize that its future depends on the degree of its commitment to national principles and achieving a deeply entrenched reconciliation,” he said.

In the defense of the Islamic Republic , which is the biggest supporter of Hamas financially and politically, Haniyeh said, “We also reject all efforts designed to make Iran be perceived as the enemy of Arabs instead of Israel, despite our differences regarding some issues.”