Palestinian shops close up to protest Rice visit

RAMALLAH, West Bank, July 25 (Reuters) Shopkeepers today shut their doors in the West Bank city of Ramallah to protest against the visit of U S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, accusing her of pro-Israel bias.

The commercial strike was called by several Palestinian factions, including the Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas and the ruling Islamist militant group Hamas, angry at U S policy over Lebanon as well as Palestinian affairs.

The strike was widely followed.

''I tell her 'go back to where you came from','' said general merchant Amin Manasrah, 45. ''She will not do anything for the good of the Palestinians or the Lebanese.'' As Israel's main ally, the United States has long been viewed with suspicion by Palestinians.

Although the United States supports Abbas, it has led a Western aid blockade that has brought the Palestinian Authority close to collapse. The embargo attempts to force the elected Hamas government to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

Anti-US anger has been stoked across the Arab world by Washington's support for Israel in the war against Hizbollah that blew up two weeks ago after the Lebanese guerrilla group captured two Israeli soldiers in a border raid.

''She (Rice) is persona non grata in Palestine,'' said taxi driver Khaled Rajab. ''We have nothing personal against her, but against the blind bias towards Israel.'' A U S official said that despite the strike and a small demonstration in Ramallah, Rice had not been made to feel unwelcome.

After meeting Abbas, Rice stressed the importance of remaining focused on establishing a Palestinian state despite the crisis in Lebanon. While Abbas wants a state in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank, Hamas is formally dedicated to destroying Israel.

REUTERS PKS KP1940