The administration of United States President Barack Obama has encouraged "resistance" by Arabs to protest Israel's presence in eastern Jerusalem, according to a senior Palestinian Authority official cited by WorldNetDaily on Thursday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the concept of protests to pressure Israel into evacuating eastern sections of Jerusalem was supported and encouraged by American diplomats who recently visited the region.
The claim follows a news conference immediately following a meeting in Jordan last week between PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Middle East envoy George Mitchell, during which Abbas declared the Arab "right" to "resistance" against Israel.