Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling for an international peace conference by mid-2018 with key goals of full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine and a timeframe for resolving all issues with Israel for a two-state solution.
Abbas made clear to the UN Security Council in a rare appearance at its monthly meeting on Mideast issues Tuesday that any future peace efforts cannot be U.S.-brokered.
He called President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “dangerous” and one reason for the deadlock in peace efforts.
He outlined the Palestinian peace vision, starting with the peace conference in Moscow. Top Trump Mideast negotiators, who are preparing their own peace plan, sat in the council chamber listening.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, Abbas on Tuesday during the UN Security Council Middle East meeting that U.S. negotiators were “ready to talk, but we will not chase after you.” (Ermino Armino/The Associated Press)
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Tuesday during the meeting that U.S. negotiators were “ready to talk, but we will not chase after you.”
Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, and U.S. Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt sat behind Haley at the meeting. Kushner and Greenblatt are currently working on a new Middle East peace plan.
Abbas did not stay in the council chamber for Haley’s remarks.
Nor was he present for Israel’s speech, which prompted harsh rebuke from Israel’s ambassador, Danny Dannon.
“I expected Mr. Abbas to stay with us and have a dialogue. Unfortunately, he’s once again running away,” said Dannon. “The only way to move forward is to have direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.”
“When we extend a hand, Abbas extends a fist,” he said.
