Alwaght- Iran’s foreign minister lampooned photo showing the US national security advisor wearing virtual reality goggles on a tour in the Israeli-occupied holy city of al-Quds (Jerusalem).
“It's said a picture says a thousand words. This picture, however, says more than a thousand words about decades of failed US policies in our region. In the valley of the blind, even those with VR glasses are still blind,” ,” Zarif tweeted on Monday, apparently referring to Washington and Tel Aviv’s persisting ignorance of the region’s history and Palestinians’ historic demands.
Accompanying Bolton on the tour of the city were his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben-Shabbat, Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer, and US Ambassador to Israeli regime David Friedman.
The US recognized al-Quds as Israel’s “capital” in late 2017, and relocated its embassy from Tel Aviv to the city last May in direct violation of the Palestinians’ concerns regarding the city’s status. Palestinians want al-Quds as the capital of their future state.
The United Nations General Assembly voted soon after the recognition in favor of a resolution asking US President Donald Trump to withdraw the decision.
Bolton’s visit further angered Palestinians as he allowed Israeli officials to accompany him on the tour.
Since the international community does not recognize al-Quds as Israeli territory, foreign dignitaries would usually avoid having Israeli officials at their side while visiting the Western Wall.
“Undermining international law by representatives of a superpower, will only lead to lawlessness, the logic of power rather than the power of logic. This behavior will not change the fact that East Jerusalem is occupied territory and the capital of the state of Palestine,” tweeted chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat in reaction.
