| July 14, 2008 How do Palestinians feel about Obama's visit?
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(NECN) - Palestinians respond to news that presumptive U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will visit the West Bank next week as part of a swing through the Middle East.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Obama will travel to Ramallah on July 23.
Speaking in Paris, Erekat said that Obama is scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and that the Palestinians "welcome this meeting."
"Obama is coming here, I guess, because he wants to show that he has interest and capability in relationship to foreign affairs and especially the Palestinian-Israeli issue," said Moustafa Barghouti, an independent lawmaker from Ramallah.
"But I hope that Obama will not repeat the mistake of Mr (John) McCain and will take a balanced position and not a biased position," he added.
Obama's Republican opponent, John McCain, visited Israel last March but did not meet with the Palestinians.
Obama is also expected to visit Israel.
One Ramallah resident said she was "surprised" at Obama's decision to visit the Palestinian territory.
"It bothers us, being Palestinian also that he has to bend to the Israeli lobby in the US all the time. He's constantly saying things about how he supports
Israel in their closure of Gaza and how they have to defend themselves and it's, you know, it's a problem. We understand he has to do that. I'm surprised he's going to visit the Palestinians - really, because there is a lot of pressure
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