Palestinians express outrage for Democrat's platform amendment

Jerusalem - The Democrats may have placated some Christians, conservatives and Jews by reinserting God and Jerusalem in its platform, but now Palestinians are just as outraged.

Palestinians say Democrats' failure to recognize their claim to Jerusalem will destroy the peace process, according to Haaretz, a major Israeli newspaper. After American media and critics noted on Monday that the Democrats had omitted any reference to God as well as language in their platform saying Jerusalem "is and will remain the capital of Israel," delegates scrambled to hold a voice-vote to reinsert the language. On Wednesday, under fire, Democrats amended their convention platform to add a mention of God and to declare that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The controversial voice vote seemed to splinter the Democrats and three separate voice-votes were required before a two-thirds majority was declared amid loud boos. Meanwhile, Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Thursday the Democrat's decision might just be "election propaganda," but warned any failure to recognize the Palestinian claim to East Jerusalem will "destroy the peace process" and lead to "endless war."