MAHMOUD ABBAS URGES EU TO TAKE LEAD IN PEACE EFFORTS, US HAS DISQUALIFIED ITSELF FROM MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
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| French President Emmanuel Macron (R) welcome Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, December 22, 2017. |
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called on the European Union to
take the initiative in the Israel-Palestine peace process.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says the US is "no longer an
honest mediator in the peace process" after it recognised Jerusalem as
Israel's capital.
Abbas also says he will "no longer accept" any peace plan put
forward by the US following President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel on December 6.
"The United States has proven to be a dishonest mediator in the
peace process," Abbas said during a joint press conference with French
President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday.
A nonbinding draft resolution to declare Trump's recognition of
Jerusalem as the Israeli capital "null and void" was approved by the
General Assembly, with 128 states voting in favour and nine against, with 35
abstentions.
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| French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas deliver a press statement after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, December 22, 2017 |
The Trump administration appeared to threaten states who voted for the
resolution with a cut in US aid to the UN and to member states.
Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the UN, said that as the largest donor to
the international body, the US had "a legitimate expectation" that
its goodwill would be "recognised and respected".
The threat was met with condemnation from Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, who said Trump "cannot buy Turkey's democratic will".
Abbas echoed Erdogan's sentiment, saying he hoped the US will
"learn the lesson and understand that you cannot impose solutions by using
money and trying to buy off countries".
The Palestinian Authority hopes the European Union will take a leading
role in peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, Abbas
continued.
"We have trust in you. We respect the efforts made by you and we
count heavily on your efforts," Abbas told French President Macron.
Macron reaffirmed the French position that the two-state solution is
the answer to ending the 70-year Israeli occupation of Palestine.
Macron went on to criticise Trump's move: "The Americans have
marginalised themselves and I am trying to not do the same thing … I do not
approve of Trump's decision regarding Jerusalem."
Although he took a critical tone, Macron, 40, has previously said he
will not immediately seek a French peace initiative.
Instead, he will wait for the outcome of the US efforts following
Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
Macron has increasingly been holding meetings with Middle East leaders
in recent weeks.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, was in Paris for talks
less than two weeks ago.
"I have committed myself very clearly to doing everything" to
further peace, Macron said.
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