Gere presented Qorei with a book of photographs he has taken in Tibet over the last 20 years (AFP)

By Samer Khuwayera, IOL Correspondent 

RAMALLAH, June 6 (IslamOnline.net) – Hollywood heartthrob Richard Gere said the Palestinian people have the right to a normal life, saying Palestinians have managed to preserve their vitality despite the bitterness he saw on the faces of children and young people.

Gere inaugurated in Ramallah Saturday, June 6, an exhibition of his photographs documenting the suffering of Tibetants under incessant occupation since 1949 – one year before the establishment of Israel on occupied Palestinian lands.

The American superstar had declined to organize the exhibition in an area of West Jerusalem after being told the Palestinians consider it "occupied territories."

Although Gere was too reserved to blame Israel for the deteriorating conditions of Palestinians, showcasing photos he had taken in Tibet over the last 20 years carried much comparison with a similar crisis under Israeli occupation.

"I express my solidarity with you and I am glad my exhibition is being shown here," the Palestinian Al-Ayyam daily quoted him as saying during the opening.

"I consider myself your brother."

Normal Life

Gere, on his third visit to the occupied territories, stressed it is time for the Palestinians to realize their ambitions and see an end to their suffering.

Every Palestinian has the right to wake up every morning and make a living for his children, the same as any person in any other part of the world, he added.

Gere's visit came a few days after Israel drew a world outcry when its army killed at least 62 Palestinians and left thousands displaced in a massive incursion into the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

Amnesty International had described the military offensive as a part of  "war crimes".

Gere vocalized opposition to Israel 's separation wall, saying it increases the suffering of Palestinians and threatens chances for peace.

More than 200,000 Palestinians are already suffering the humanitarian consequences of the separation wall, according to the United Nations.

Gere's anti-Iraq invasion views made headlines in the run-up to the offensive on the oil-rich country.

Meeting Qorei

The American movie star met Saturday with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei at the premier's office in Abu Dis on the outskirts of occupied Jerusalem .

The two reportedly exchanged gifts, and Gere presented Qorei with a book of photographs he has taken in Tibet over the last 20 years.

On Friday, June 4, Gere attended a film festival in the Jewish settlement of Sderot and accepted a fragment of a Qassam rocket reportedly fired by Palestinian fighters, Haaretz reported.

The United Nations deem all Jewish settlements illegal, since they are built on Palestinian lands seized by Israeli forces.

Many world notables came under intense fire by the influential Jewish lobbies – dominating the cinema industry in the U.S. - for declaring their support to the Palestinians.

The apology of others, such as Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, for pro-Palestinian remarks in June 2002, also helped to stifle anti-Israeli voices.