RAMALLAH, West Bank — A mass sit-in was held Nov. 18 in the governorate of Ramallah and al-Bireh in the central West Bank to condemn US Secretary of State Mark Pompeo's Nov. 19 visit to the Psagot settlement in the city of al-Bireh.

The protesters — among them Palestinian leaders, students and institutional representatives — raised Palestinian flags and held banners condemning settlement activity and Pompeo’s visit. They then marched toward the outskirts of Jabal al-Taweel in the city of al-Bireh. Clashes broke out between young people and the Israeli army, resulting in injuries to protesters, who inhaled tear gas.

Mahmoud al-Aloul, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Fatah, said at the sit-in, “Pompeo's visit was no surprise to the Palestinian people given all the US administration's bias to the occupation.” Aloul added, “The administration of outgoing US President Donald Trump is not only biased toward the occupation" but also a partner of it.

Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the PLO’s Executive Committee who was also present at the sit-in, spoke on behalf of the PLO factions, saying, “Pompeo's visit shows blatant disregard of international law.” He added, “The Trump administration seeks to implement the deal of the century [US Middle East peace plan] in the time remaining before leaving the White House.”