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Trump plays golf in Scotland while protesters take to the streets and decry his visit

Trump plays golf in Scotland while protesters take to the streets and decry his visit

Gulf Today5 days ago
US President Donald Trump played golf on Saturday at his course on Scotland's coast while protesters around the country took to the streets to decry his visit and accuse United Kingdom leaders of pandering to the American.
Trump and his son Eric played with the US ambassador to Britain, Warren Stephens, near Turnberry, a historic course that the Trump family's company took over in 2008.
Hundreds of protesters gathered on the cobblestone and tree-lined street in front of the US Consulate about 160 kilometres away in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital.
Speakers on a makeshift stage told the crowd that Trump was not welcome and they criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for striking a recent trade deal to avoid stiff US tariffs on goods imported from the UK.
Donald Trump (2L) reacts as he plays golf at the Trump Turnberry Golf Courses, in Turnberry. AFP
Protests were planned in other cities as environmental activists, opponents of Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and pro-Ukraine groups loosely formed a "Stop Trump Coalition."
"I think there are far too many countries that are feeling the pressure of Trump and that they feel that they have to accept him and we should not accept him here,' said June Osbourne, 52, a photographer and photo historian from Edinburgh who protested wearing a red cloak and white hood, recalling "The Handmaid's Tale." Osbourne held up picture of Trump with "Resist' stamped over his face.
The dual-US-Scottish citizen said the Republican president was "the worst thing that has happened to the world, the US, in decades.'
Golf carts are parked surrounding President Donald Trump as he plays golf at the Trump Turnberry golf course. AP
Saturday's protests were not nearly as large as the throngs that came out across Scotland when Trump played at the resort during his first term in 2018. But bagpipes played, people chanted "Trump Out!' and raised homemade signs that said "No red carpet for dictators," "We don't want you here' and "Stop Trump. Migrants welcome.'
One dog had a sign that said "No treats for tyrants.'
Some on the far right took to social media to call for gatherings supporting Trump in places such as Glasgow. Upon arriving in Scotland on Friday night, Trump admonished European leaders for not cracking down on immigration.
"This immigration is killing Europe," he said. "You better get your act together,' Trump said. "You're not going to have Europe anymore.'
While in Scotland, Trump is set to talk trade with Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president. But golf is a major focus.
The Trumps will also visit another Trump course, in the Aberdeen area in northeastern Scotland. They plan to cut a ribbon on Tuesday, opening the second Trump course.
The president has long lobbied for Turnberry to host the British Open, which it has not done since he took over ownership. "There's no place like it,' he said on Friday night.
Associated Press
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Portugal to consider recognising Palestinian state, says PM
Portugal to consider recognising Palestinian state, says PM

Middle East Eye

time9 minutes ago

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Portugal to consider recognising Palestinian state, says PM

Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has said that his country intends to recognise the state of Palestine in September, AFP has reported. "The Portuguese government will consult the president and parliament on the question of recognising the State of Palestine at the UN in September," Montenegro's office has said in a statement. This comes a day after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, "unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza". The announcement was followed by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said that the nation will recognise the Palestinian state at the UN in September. France and Malta have also said they will recognise Palestine.

France's recognition of Palestinian state: A 'symbolic' move with questionable effectiveness
France's recognition of Palestinian state: A 'symbolic' move with questionable effectiveness

Middle East Eye

time10 minutes ago

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France's recognition of Palestinian state: A 'symbolic' move with questionable effectiveness

The decision came after years of hesitation. It was constantly discussed, but never implemented. On 24 July, French President Emmanuel Macron finally confirmed in a letter addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that France will recognise the state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The announcement provoked the ire of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who "strongly condemned" a decision that "rewards terrorism". The United States, Israel's main supporter, considered it a "reckless decision [that] only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace". The French president did not choose the date of his announcement randomly. Days later, on 28 and 29 July, a conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia devoted to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was held at the UN. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters On this occasion, the French authorities hoped to convince other states to commit to the same path. And their gamble appears to have paid off, at least partially. On 29 July, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom will recognise a Palestinian state by September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by then and "commit to a long-term sustainable peace reviving the prospect of a two-state solution". The same day, 15 western countries led by France launched a "New York Call" stating their willingness to move toward recognition of a Palestinian state. Several Middle East states and the Arab League also joined in a call for Hamas to end its rule in Gaza "in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state". The joint statement was described as "both historic and unprecedented" by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who said that for "the first time" Arab and Middle Eastern countries "condemn Hamas, condemn 7 October, call for its disarmament, call for its exclusion from any form of participation in the governance of Palestine, and clearly express their intention to maintain normalised relations with Israel in the future and to join Israel and the future state of Palestine in a regional organisation". 'The idea is to set in stone the future creation of a Palestinian state. And this allows us to say to the Israeli far right: your goal of the Palestinians leaving their land is a myth, it won't happen' - Source close to the French authorities Then on 30 July, it was the turn of Canada to announce its intention to proceed with recognising the state of Palestine at the next UN General Assembly. It was followed by Portugal on 31 July. While 148 countries currently recognise the Palestinian state, a majority of western countries do not. France, which is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, was the first G7 state to take the step. According to Agnes Levallois, vice president of the Institute for Research and Studies on the Mediterranean and the Middle East (Iremmo) in Paris, "this decision has the merit of putting international law back at the centre of the Palestinian issue". "It signals to Israel that a Palestinian state will indeed exist. And this at a time when statements opposing its creation are increasing," she told Middle East Eye. On 23 July, the Israeli parliament passed a non-binding motion calling on the Israeli government to annexe the occupied West Bank, further undermining the prospect of a viable Palestinian state. For a source close to the French authorities, "the idea is to set in stone the future creation of a Palestinian state. And this allows us to say to the Israeli far right: your goal of the Palestinians leaving their land is a myth, it won't happen." 'Public pressure has shifted the lines' Macron still seemed hesitant just a few weeks ago. Last April, upon returning from a trip to the Egyptian city of Rafah, on the border with Gaza, he had mentioned a possible recognition at a UN conference on the two-state solution, which was then scheduled to take place in June. He had made it conditional on the normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia. Reckless or historic? World reacts to France's recognition of the state of Palestine Read More » This still-elusive prospect of a French recognition of Palestine, which London was hesitant to join, was opposed by the US, which made it clear to Paris and London, as MEE revealed in June. Meanwhile, Israel warned that it would annexe part of the West Bank if the UK and France decided to recognise the Palestinian state. The war launched by Israel against Iran in June ultimately postponed the UN conference, and therefore a possible French decision. Macron's announcement last week surprised many observers who thought France had eventually abandoned his project to recognise a Palestinian state. "It was clearly the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza that made the President of the Republic decide. Front pages showing emaciated children have multiplied in the press," Levallois said. "There are more and more statements calling for an end to starvation and Israel's offensive. Public pressure has shifted the lines." While Israel's war on Gaza has killed over 60,000 Palestinians since October 2023 and caused immense destruction, the enclave is now also threatened by starvation triggered by the blockade on humanitarian aid Israel renewed in March. 'The French and Europeans must adopt measures that truly compel Israel to end the genocide. That is the priority. It is entirely possible, in terms of sanctions, to model what was done with Russia on Israel' - Insaf Rezagui, researcher The war is now widely described as a genocide by a growing number of countries, major human rights groups, such as Israeli NGOs B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, and international legal experts. For Insaf Rezagui, a PhD in international law at the University of Paris Cite and a member of the Yaani group of researchers on Palestine, Macron's decision "was taken primarily to express disapproval of the situation in Gaza". However, she told MEE, the decision "is above all symbolic" and "will not add much". "France already implicitly recognises the Palestinian state through its political and economic relations, and even the presence of a consulate there [in occupied East Jerusalem]," she said. "The French and Europeans must adopt measures that truly compel Israel to end the genocide. That is the priority. It is entirely possible, in terms of sanctions, to model what was done with Russia on Israel," she added. No French sanctions against Israel However, France is currently content with individual sanctions against extremist settlers in the West Bank, where their violence has increased in recent months, and has so far ruled out any sanctions against the Israeli state or members of the government - unlike several countries including the Netherlands, UK, Australia and Canada. This stance could be explained by its desire to maintain a channel of dialogue with the Israelis. "There are very high-level relations between France and Israel. To maintain them, France is giving guarantees," said MEE's source. Over 100 lawyers ask ICC to investigate Macron and French ministers for Gaza genocide complicity Read More » The overflight authorisations granted by France to Netanyahu last February and April, despite the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court, is also part of this. Furthermore, while Macron's announcement last week makes recognition no longer conditional on normalisation deals by Arab states, in his letter to Abbas, the French president spelled out a number of commitments made by his Palestinian counterpart that led France to take this decision. They included the condemnation of the "terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023" and calling for the immediate release of the hostages held by Hamas, its disarmament and withdrawal from Gaza governance, and the demilitarisation of the future Palestinian state. For rights groups and pro-Palestine activists, these diplomatic subtleties are now dangerously anachronistic. Anne Tuaillon, president of the France Palestine Solidarity Association (AFPS), judges Macron's decision to recognise the Palestinian state as "positive", even if "late", but warns that "it will remain symbolic if everything is not done to end the occupation". The AFPS advocates for several practical measures, such as the suspension of the Israel-EU Association Agreement, which is opposed by several member states, an arms embargo, a ban on imports of products from settlements and sanctions against companies established there. 'Macron's decision to recognise the Palestinian state is late, but positive. However, it will remain symbolic if everything is not done to end the occupation' - Anne Tuaillon, president of the France Palestine Solidarity Association The French foreign minister said he was in favour of the EU "ending all forms of direct and indirect financial support for settlements", but he did not commit to France adopting such measures at the national level. Meanwhile, France has been repeatedly accused of delivering arms to Israel, despite denials from the authorities. For the AFPS, the path to a resolution of the conflict lies through the implementation of the UN General Assembly resolution adopted by 124 countries, including France, in September 2024. Based on a decision of the International Court of Justice, the resolution demands that "Israel immediately end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory [...] and that it does so no later than 12 months after the adoption of this resolution". However, according to the AFPS, Paris has failed to respond to any requests regarding France's implementation of the resolution. "What sense can there be in recognising a state whose land is colonised, whose people live under military occupation or in exile and endure an apartheid regime? The full implementation of [this] resolution precisely allows for an end to this occupation, colonisation and apartheid; otherwise, the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, including the right of return, cannot be respected," the NGO said. "Furthermore, making recognition of the state of Palestine conditional on its demilitarisation amounts to depriving it of one of its essential sovereign powers and leaving its population exposed to attacks by settlers and the Israeli army."

Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a pawn in a diplomatic game
Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a pawn in a diplomatic game

Middle East Eye

timean hour ago

  • Middle East Eye

Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a pawn in a diplomatic game

On 29 July, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain would recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, "unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long-term sustainable peace". Of course, any British recognition of the state of Palestine, if and when it happens, would mark a historic moment. Britain bears a unique responsibility as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the mandatory power in Palestine. If recognition does take place, it would reinforce the British government's stated support for a two-state solution, after decades of recognising only one state, Israel, while denying the other. It would chart a trajectory that rejects Israel's attempt to impose a one-state apartheid reality across the whole of historic Palestine. It would set the terms for any future peace process, in which the end goal must include a Palestinian state, reaffirming the British government's stated commitment to a two-state solution, as outlined in its announcement. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters So why were Palestinians and others not out on the streets celebrating the British government's announcement that emerged from an emergency recall of the cabinet? Empty gesture It is worth revisiting the statement that outlines the conditions under which Britain has said it would recognise Palestine. The cabinet decision stipulates that recognition will proceed only if Israel fails to meet a series of conditions: it must commit to a ceasefire and take action to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including "allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank". Netanyahu could, if he wished, respond: fine, go ahead and recognise Palestine - but you will be recognising a dream, not a reality The result is a surreal formulation: recognition of the Palestinian right to statehood and self-determination is no longer treated as a right, but as something conditional on Israeli intransigence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could, if he wished, respond: fine, go ahead and recognise Palestine - but you will be recognising a dream, not a reality. Yet the announcement also presents options for Hamas. Contrary to the simplistic anti-Palestinian narrative that this would be a "reward" for Hamas - that it could block a ceasefire and still secure recognition - many within the Palestinian national movement see it differently. Although Hamas did accept the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a two-state framework in its modified charter of 2017, it has had little interest in pushing for this as a goal. For the resistance group, such a move reeks of the despised Oslo process. Still, Hamas does not want an already discredited Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to gain credit among Palestinians for any recognition. Vague demands Looking closely at the British conditions on Israel, Starmer's team has embedded enough vague language to allow the prime minister considerable leeway. What are the "substantive steps" Israel must take in Gaza? This is never clarified. There is no requirement that Israel withdraw its forces. These decisions are left to Starmer's interpretation. Israel is asked to commit to a "long-term sustainable peace", yet there is no mention of a two-state solution in that vision, let alone an end to the occupation. The language is so vague as to be meaningless. On the very day that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) determined that Gaza is experiencing famine - brought on by an Israeli policy of starvation - the British government demanded only that Israel "allow" the UN to resume humanitarian deliveries. But the UK has been making this demand for months. Why would it succeed now? Worse, this statement is even weaker than the previous ones. "Allowing" the UN to deliver limited aid is not the same as demanding full, unimpeded access for all humanitarian agencies. The UK also insists that Israel must commit to a ceasefire. But what kind? A temporary truce, as the Israeli government has long sought, or a permanent one that Hamas is demanding? If Netanyahu claims to accept specific US terms for a ceasefire - terms that Israel likely helped shape - would that be enough to claim Israeli compliance? Even before this announcement, Netanyahu may have been planning for a ceasefire by the end of August, having spent a month mopping up what remains in Gaza. Follow Middle East Eye's live coverage of the Israel's war on Gaza What else is left to bomb? He could declare an end to military operations while keeping his forces on the ground. He knows the war is unpopular in Israel. He can claim victory and shift the focus to the West Bank. He can allow limited aid to enter Gaza through the UN, just enough to reduce starvation deaths. As for the West Bank, the British conditions are hardly stronger. Netanyahu need not announce annexation any time soon. Settlement expansion can continue - including the doomsday E1 project - without violating any of the terms outlined by Starmer. Non-negotiable There is no reason that Britain's recognition could not have happened in July. Imagine how much more powerful it would have been if France and Britain had stood together at the UN, announcing recognition with solemn conviction. President Emmanuel Macron and Starmer could have shown real leadership. Instead of recognising 'Palestine', countries should withdraw recognition of Israel Joseph Massad Read More » Yet the most egregious failure of the announcement lies in the absence of any sanctions on Israel for its conduct in Gaza, even as it continues its genocide. Sanctions should have been imposed, with the possibility of suspension only if Israel met a clear and enforceable set of demands, including full, unimpeded humanitarian access. That is where conditionality ought to have been placed. Instead, the British government has been reduced to airdropping aid into Gaza - the least effective and most dangerous method of humanitarian delivery. The fittest will get it first; the neediest will get it last. British weakness is on full and painful display. Recognition of a Palestinian state should never have been subject to negotiation. It is not a tool to punish Israel. It is a right to be upheld, not a pawn in a diplomatic game. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.

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