Abbas says Palestinians desire Arab peace deal implemented without changes

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday the Palestinian Authority wants the 2002 Arab peace deal implemented without any changes.

Addressing the 28th Arab Summit, Abbas said he received an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Washington for continued talks to push the peace process forward.

"We agreed that the U.S. administration will take steps to make a progress in this regard in line with the two-state solution with the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on the borders of 1967, so Israel and Palestine can live alongside each other," Abbas said.

The two-state solution is the sole way to achieve peace, he said.

"It is unacceptable for some talk about temporary solutions or any attempts to reach a solution to the Palestinian issue as part of a regional initiative or talking about change to Arab peace initiative," said Abbas.

"We want the Arab peace initiative enforced as it was first adopted without any changes," he added.

Israel should give up settlement activities and land annexation if it wants peace, said Abbas.

"If Israel wants to live in peace with its neighbors and wants to be a partner in the peace process, it should give up lands annexation and grant the Palestinians freedoms on their lands in line with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative," he said.

The peace deal offers Israel normal ties with the Arabs in return for withdrawal from territories it occupied in 1967.

Israel has been moving ahead with settlement activities and attempts to alter the current situation in Jerusalem and using all pretexts to justify its occupation, he said.

"We warn Israel from turning the conflict from a political one into a religions conflict as that will result in serious consequences on the entire region...We are working via all the diplomatic and political channels to that objective," he added.

Abbas called on all Arabs to urge UK to stop its celebration of the centennial of the Balfour Declaration.

"This is a painful anniversary for our people. We demand that UK extends its apology for our people on what it caused to them and we want you to recognize Palestine. We do not want to fight the UK, but want to say that it made a mistake and it is time to apologize." Abbas said.

He also called on Arab states to extend their support for Palestine for its membership in the UN.

Source: Xinhua