Abbas in France: “The US is no longer a fair mediator in the peace process… We are the ones who are disseminating the culture of peace instead of war… Israel is our neighbor and we want to make peace with it”
Excerpt of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ statement at a joint press conference together with French President Emmanuel Macron on Dec. 22, 2017, in France
Headline: "At a joint press conference in Paris - President Abbas: We will not agree to any plan of America as it is biased and violates international law; Macron: France will continue to stand alongside Palestine, I have demanded that Netanyahu stop the construction in the settlements"
"[PA President Mahmoud Abbas:] 'As a result of [US] President [Donald] Trump's determination that Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel and decision to transfer the embassy there, I have emphasized before His Honor [French] President [Emmanuel] Macron that the US is no longer a fair mediator in the peace process, and that we will not agree to any plan from it as it is biased [in favor of Israel] and violates international law…
Whoever presents such a plan, according to which united Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel, and transfers its embassy there in violation of all of the international decisions - I do not think that he is capable of presenting a just and reasonable solution for establishing peace in the Middle East…
The recognition of the State of Palestine is an investment in the future of peace and the future and security of the region…
Everyone knows that we are among the official parties in the world that are fighting violence and terror throughout the world. We have agreements with 83 states in the world, from Canada to Japan, for one purpose – to fight terror – as we want to reach a solution through peaceful means. We are the ones who are disseminating the culture of peace instead of war, and that is how our people is now characterized. Therefore, you see that all of the demonstrations that have been held in the Palestinian territories have been peaceful demonstrations (sic., the demonstrations have included rioting and rock throwing, and been accompanied by stabbings and stabbing attempts), and not even one Palestinian bullet has been fired in them, while many Palestinians have been killed. However, we have told them that we must be civilized and respond with a culture of peaceful demonstrations. This must be our slogan, no less and no more, in order to express our protest and opposition to what is occurring. It cannot be that we will use weapons and such…
We want peace with Israel. Israel is our neighbor and we want to make peace with it and live in peace with it.'"
US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.
Headline: "At a joint press conference in Paris - President Abbas: We will not agree to any plan of America as it is biased and violates international law; Macron: France will continue to stand alongside Palestine, I have demanded that Netanyahu stop the construction in the settlements"
"[PA President Mahmoud Abbas:] 'As a result of [US] President [Donald] Trump's determination that Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel and decision to transfer the embassy there, I have emphasized before His Honor [French] President [Emmanuel] Macron that the US is no longer a fair mediator in the peace process, and that we will not agree to any plan from it as it is biased [in favor of Israel] and violates international law…
Whoever presents such a plan, according to which united Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel, and transfers its embassy there in violation of all of the international decisions - I do not think that he is capable of presenting a just and reasonable solution for establishing peace in the Middle East…
The recognition of the State of Palestine is an investment in the future of peace and the future and security of the region…
Everyone knows that we are among the official parties in the world that are fighting violence and terror throughout the world. We have agreements with 83 states in the world, from Canada to Japan, for one purpose – to fight terror – as we want to reach a solution through peaceful means. We are the ones who are disseminating the culture of peace instead of war, and that is how our people is now characterized. Therefore, you see that all of the demonstrations that have been held in the Palestinian territories have been peaceful demonstrations (sic., the demonstrations have included rioting and rock throwing, and been accompanied by stabbings and stabbing attempts), and not even one Palestinian bullet has been fired in them, while many Palestinians have been killed. However, we have told them that we must be civilized and respond with a culture of peaceful demonstrations. This must be our slogan, no less and no more, in order to express our protest and opposition to what is occurring. It cannot be that we will use weapons and such…
We want peace with Israel. Israel is our neighbor and we want to make peace with it and live in peace with it.'"
US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.