Palestinian Ambassador: "We need a strong voice from Ireland within the United States, within the Trump administration"

In her first major interview since becoming the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid speaks openly about the harrowing events of the past 15 months – arguing that former US President Joe Biden is directly responsible for Palestinian deaths.

"Many thousands of Palestinians were killed by these [US] weapons supplied to Israel – this is the image that we have about American leadership," she tells Hot Press. "The United States support Israel. They send the weapons to Israel. These weapons kill the Palestinians.”

Also in the six-page interview – which was conducted by Jason O'Toole, and features in the current issue of Hot Press – the ambassador directly addresses US President Donald Trump with a passionate plea:

"If you, Mr. Trump, wanted to promote peace in the region, you have to realise that the indigenous people in Palestine have the right to self-determination," Dr. Abdalmajid says. "And in that way, your plans for peace in the region will be even, fair enough. If you wanted to help Israelis, there must be peace in that area. If you want to protect Israel from itself and from its arrogance, you have to see the other side of the story.”

Asked if is she afraid that the land theft being perpetrated right now in the West Bank will only increase under US Donald Trump’s leadership, she says: “We’re not optimistic”

Donald Trump. Photo: Shealah Craighead

Elsewhere in the interview, Dr. Abdalmajid dismisses the idea that Ireland could be internationally damaged by Israel’s decision to close its Dublin embassy.

"Ireland is strong," she remarks. "Ireland has a very good image internationally when it comes to international law and human rights – any country in this world would be proud [to have Ireland’s record]. You don’t use double standards. You always have a consistent and clear position. Ireland must be proud and confident of what they are doing.”

Reflecting on how Ireland can play an invaluable role in peace in the region, the ambassador states:

“We need a strong voice from Ireland within the United States, within the Trump administration. I know that you have strong relations with the Americans, whether on the nation level, on the government level. We need to invest in that to protect the rights of the Palestinians, because we’re afraid the Trump administration will take it in a different level of abuse, or take it in a different level of less recognition of the Palestinian rights. ”

Also in this major six-page feature, Dr. Abdalmajid discusses the Good Friday Agreement, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas, Bill Clinton, Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas aka Abu Mazen, genocide, anti-Semitism, Gaza, PLO, BDS, and a two-state solution.

Read the full interview in the current issue of Hot Press – in shops now, and available to order online below: