Palestinian Disappointment Ahead of Obama's Visit
Some Palestinians are planning creative protests for President Barack Obama's visit to the West Bank, Lena Odgaard reports.
Along the road to Ramallah from the Qalandia checkpoint separating the West Bank from east Jerusalem hang posters with the American stars and stripes and the iconic red-and-blue picture of President Barack Obama.
“President Obama, don’t bring your smart phone to Ramallah. You won’t have mobile access to Internet — we have no 3G in Palestine!” Another sign gives the message: “President Obama, come early to your meeting in Ramallah. It may take you two hours to cross Qalandia checkpoint.”
The posters are designed by young Palestinian web consultant Mahir Alawneh, who decided along with a couple of friends to send a different kind of message to the American president.
”Most of our people talk about the major issues, but not about our lifestyles,” Alawneh told Al-Monitor in Ramallah, and explained that though 3G is a small issue for Palestinians, who have more pressing concerns, it serves as a point of comparison for Americans, who are likely to be very upset if it were suddenly banned in their country. He added, “So this is the point: If we don’t have this tiny thing, do you think we have the bigger things?”
