West Bank – It’s not the prices at a shoe shop in Ramallah that will keep tourists out — it’s the demand for an official apology before entering.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
A sign recently posted outside the shop, shared on Twitter by COGAT, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, said any British or American citizens who wish to enter must apologize first.
“To all British and American citizens,” the sign reads. “Before entering, you should offer your apologies and hold responsibility for the Balfour’s [sic] Declaration and Trump’s dirty decision which has caused all the pain and suffering for the Palestinians since its declaration till this very moment.” The sign ended with the oddly friendly: “You are most welcome.”
It has been almost a month since US President Donald Trump gave an official speech recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and pledging to move the US Embassy there. And it has been just over 100 years since the Balfour Declaration, the British government’s statement of support for establishing a Jewish state.
COGAT called the sign “disgraceful” and lamented it being posted “during the busiest month of tourism.”
“Aside from being offensive,” the government body wrote on Twitter, “such signs, which mix politics and tourism, can hurt the local Palestinian economy.”
According to Kan reporter Gal Berger, the shop is called Rahalah, and sells shoes “handmade in Palestine.” According to the store’s website, it was established in 1985 in Nablus and then moved to Ramallah in 1991.
I guess he will not be selling to Americans or British !! They should apologize for putting up the sign!!
The stupid Palinazis come up with yet another “brilliant” way to shoot themselves in the foot.
I’ll bet that some Brits will apologize. And maybe some American liberal peace activists too. Otherwise what would they be doing in that armpit of the world anyway?
If you asked me the shoe should be on the other foot(pardon the expression) they should be apologizing to us Americans and to those Brits.
Did they get the idea from former President Obama,that was famous for going all over,and declaring that the USA was sorry for this and that??
If Americans, Brits, or Israelis ever considered the idea of boycotting Palestinian businesses, the outcry from the leftists, the Muslim countries, the liberals, the MSM, the UN, the EU, etc. would be deafening.