Russian President Medvedev visiting West Bank

[Joanne98]

Source: AP

JERICHO, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinians welcomed Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the West Bank on Tuesday, seizing the high-profile visit as an opportunity to showcase their progress toward building an independent state.

The ancient town of Jericho was decked out in Russian and Palestinian flags, and black-clad Palestinian troops with assault rifles lined the streets. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Medvedev were received by an honor guard in a red carpet ceremony.

Jericho is one of several semiautonomous Palestinian enclaves within the West Bank, where Israel maintains overall control. Israeli security forces were not visible along the access roads to Jericho on Tuesday.

Medvedev's visit comes at a time of corrosive deadlock in Mideast peace efforts, with Abbas saying he will not return to U.S.-brokered negotiations unless Israel halts settlement construction on occupied lands sought for a Palestinian state.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jKGHDGUfKDLu0Qn3uD_nD3kcQ_EA?docId=5bf8b687b3804503b2a43ecf677e3e5d

[Poll_Blind]

1. Wow. Very interesting political statement. If Robin visits Jericho, does that mean BatPutin...

...approves?

Very interesting.

PB