As visual analogies go, it could not have been worse. President Trump appearing via video link at the official ceremony to commemorate his Jerusalem shuffle. While paying lip service to American commitment to the peace process. Netanyahu, for his part, celebrating history in the making as the Middle East’s only democracy fires live ammunition, tear gas and firebombs at Palestinian protestors; killing 52 and injuring some 2,4000. Regional media reported this as the deadliest day for Palestinians since the 2014 Gaza war. Yet the pantomime continued with the top Palestinian leadership pledging to take the matter to the Arab League, the UN Security Council as well as the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek justice in the face of ongoing Israeli aggression. This is not meant as an indictment of President Mahmoud Abbas and his government. For if the veteran Palestinian leader stands weakened – the international community is to blame. After all, the latter has had 70 long years to right this historic wrong that began with the world’s largest land grab. Which, of course, was swiftly followed by the UN recognising Israeli statehood. The Palestinians to this day have been robbed of this right. How much longer will they be made to suffer? A century? Or more? There is perhaps no subjugation worse than living under violent military occupation. Where the aggressor nation has the final say on almost every aspect of the daily struggle just to live. Yet when this is backed by global institutions, what do the Palestinians have left to cling on to? What can they hope for when, over the last month-and-a-half alone, Tel Aviv has killed 90 and wounded an estimated 10,500? All in a bid to crush legitimate protests calling for the right to return. That Trump chose the day before the creation of the Jewish state to unveil the new US embassy in Jerusalem is seen by Palestinian as sending a clear-cut message. After all, for them, May 15, 1948 represents the Nakba (catastrophe) of Palestinian ethnic cleansing. And in one fell swoop, the unquiet American president has indicated that this is of absolutely no import. Abbas has said that by going ahead with the embassy relocation, the US has effectively removed itself from the peace process. This is no bad thing given that successive White Houses, possibly with the exception of that of Jimmy Carter who spoke of Israeli colonisation and apartheid rule over the Palestinians, have always negotiated for the security of the Jewish state. The time has come for the Palestinians to broaden the scope of international support; possibly with the inclusion of Russia and China. Especially considering that the latter are both looking to make further inroads into the region. Putin has already made gains towards this end having signed three oil deals with Riyadh and well green-lighting a $3 billion arms sale to the Kingdom. Thus the opportunity is here for the Russian president to think of a role in peace building. The question is whether or not he will be bold enough to assume this role. * Published in Daily Times, May 15th 2018.