SIDEBAR 'Who is Trump to intervene?' - Trump decision provokes Palestinians

Gaza City (dpa) - Hundreds of angry Palestinians took to the streets Wednesday in the wake of US President Donald Trump‘s decision to shift recognition of the Israeli capital from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.Those who braved the inclement weather demonstrated and chanted slogans - against Trump and in support of Jerusalem - and burned car tyres. Protests were seen in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, all over Gaza City and in the southern Gaza Strip towns of Khan Younis and Rafah.Smaller protests also took place in the West Bank communities of Ramallah and Bethlehem. However, fierce winter weather conditions likely suppressed turnout. Mosque loudspeakers called on Gaza residents to take to the streets to express rage and protest against Trump‘s declaration.Hassan Sami Dbabesh, a 20-year-old construction worker from Gaza city was one of those who came out."Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Palestine," he said. "Who is Trump to intervene into Muslims‘ affairs and declare that Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Israel, which is not recognized by the Arabs and the Muslims?""I have never joined any protest against Israel, but when I heard that Trump declared that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, I was provoked and get mad, therefore I took to the street to support al-Quds (Jerusalem) and the al-Aqsa Mosque. I call on the armed wings of the Palestinian factions to carry out a harsh response to Trump decalaration."Akram al-Khaldi, a 25-year-old cars mechanic from Gaza City also expressed his rage."In regards to Trump‘s decision, which violates the rights of the Palestinians and Muslims, the Palestinian armed resistance in all its forms must respond quickly until Trump retracts this unjust decision," he added."I call on all the people of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, the 48 (Arab-Israelis) and the entire Arab and Islamic nations to come out to the streets to respond to this decision adopted by Trump."