NEWS




26September
Photo courtesy of the United Nations

Palestinian president calls for international peace conference next year

Mahmoud Abbas, president of Palestinian State on Friday (Sept 25) called for an international conference early next year to launch a "genuine peace process” while criticizing the decision of two Arab countries to normalize relations with the Israel.
“How long do we have to wait until there is just solution to the Palestinian question,” Abbas asked in his recorded speech during the75th session of United Nations. 

He further asked, “How long will the Palestinian people continue to languish under the yoke of Israeli occupation?”

Abbas said the conference should have full authority to launch a genuine peace process base on international law and relevant terms of reference and it should aim to end the occupation.

“Grant the Palestinian people their freedom and independence in their own state along the 1967 boarders with East Jerusalem as capital and to settle all final status issues notable the refugee question in line with resolution 194,” he said.

The Palestinian leader said they rejected the decision of United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize relations with Israel citing it is a violation of the Arab peace initiative and the principle of just and lasting solution under international law. 

“The Palestinian people live in Palestine, the land of their fathers and grandfathers for six thousand years. They will remain in this land and they will stand up to occupation, aggression and betrayal until they gain their rights,” he underscored.

Abbas pointed out that the Palestinian people are in favor of just and lasting peace and it is Israel that reneged all the agreements it signed and has undermined the two-state solution through its aggression. 

He related that Israel has killed and arrested people, demolished homes, stifled the economy and has desecrated Christian and Muslim holy sites especially Al Aqsa Mosque.

Abbas said, “The only way to achieve just and lasting peace in our region is to end the occupation and to ensure the independence of the state of Palestine along the 1967 boarders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

“There could be no peace, no security, no stability or co-existence in our region without an end to occupation and without a just and comprehensive solution to Palestinian question,” he emphasized.

The Palestinian president reiterated, “We will fight until we regain our rightful place among the nations and we will exercise all our rights under international law including our right to resist occupation.”

He added that they will continue to build state institutions under the rule of law and will continue to fight international terrorism as they have done for years.