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WORLD NEWS Thursday 28 June 2018

Prince William meets Palestinians in West Bank

By EYAD MOGHRABI munity in the Holy Land.
Associated Press Thousands of onlookers
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) gathered behind police
— Britain's Prince William barriers to catch a glimpse
traveled to the West Bank of the prince, with some
on Wednesday, spreading shouting "we love William"
a message of peace as toward the second in line
he met with the Palestinian to the throne.
president and toured a Pal- The prince casually smiled
estinian refugee camp. and waved before attend-
The Duke of Cambridge ing a cultural event on the
was welcomed by an hon- rooftop of a museum where
or guard as he turned his he met young people en-
attention to the Palestin- gaged in youth activism,
ians on the second day of social impact and the envi-
his swing through the Holy ronment. There, he lauded
Land. It is the first official vis- Israel for being way ahead
it to the area by a member of the world in its water re-
of the royal family. cycling and conservation
The Palestinians were ea- efforts.
ger to welcome him, hop- "It's going to be a really big
ing the visit will give them issue for us in the future," he
a boost as they struggled said. "I think my generation,
with a Trump administration Britain's Prince William, shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank my children as well, there's
they considered biased in City of Ramallah, Wednesday, June 27, 2018. a legacy here ... we need
favor of Israel. Abbas ap- Associated Press to tidy up a bit."q
pealed to the prince and hit hard by a U.S. decision will strengthen the friend-
the British people to sup- to slash hundreds of millions ship between the Palestin-
port the Palestinian cam- of dollars in funding. ian and British people. "The
paign for independence. Though William's trip is being United Kingdom stands with
William, trying to steer clear billed as non-political, he you as we work together for
of politics, praised what he is meeting with Israeli and a peaceful and prosperous
called the close ties be- Palestinian leaders and vis- future," the prince said.
tween Britain and the Pal- iting sites at the heart of the After the speech he spoke
estinians. century-old conflict. to groups of people, includ-
"I'm very glad that our two The Kensington Palace's ing some residents of Gaza,
countries work so closely Twitter account posted a Palestinian politicians, and
together and have had photo of the prince posing members of youth organi-
success stories with edu- with scouts, looking on as a zations.
cation and relief work," he girl in a hijab kicked a soc- Earlier on Wednesday, Wil-
said. "My sentiments are cer ball and sitting with girls liam began the day by
the same as yours in hop- at the school. strolling down Tel Aviv's
ing that there is a lasting Speaking at the British Con- trendy Rothschild Boule-
peace in the region." sulate in Jerusalem after his vard and meeting young
William continued to the West Bank visit, Prince Wil- artists and entrepreneurs in
nearby Jalazoun refugee liam said he saw "an unfor- Israel's cultural and finan-
camp, where he met with gettable display of Palestin- cial capital.
Palestinian youths, ate hum- ian culture and hospitality" Wearing a beige summer
mus and other local dishes in Ramallah. blazer, light blue shirt, blue
and visited a school and a William said he was "struck pants and brown suede
clinic. Footage showed Wil- by how many people in loafers, he met Netta Barzi-
liam wearing sunglasses as the region want a just and lai, winner of this year's Eu-
he sat watching a tradition- lasting peace." He added rovision song contest, and
al Arab folk dance. these are the "same aspira- had a cold drink at one
The facilities are run by UN- tions of young people ev- of the famous kiosks along
WRA, the U.N. relief pro- erywhere in the world." the boulevard named after
gram that assists Palestinian "My message tonight is that the late 19th-century British-
refugees and their descen- you have not been forgot- Jewish banker and philan-
dants across the Middle ten," the prince said. thropist who contributed
East. The agency has been He said he hopes his visit greatly to the Jewish com-