President Abbas: Palestinian issue going through its most difficult times

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday that the Palestinian issue is now going through one of its most difficult times.

"The Palestinian issue is now going through the most difficult times, but we will not despair and we will persevere until we achieve our goals and our national rights in freedom, independence and the establishment of our independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital," Abbas told a delegation from the Palestinian American community he received at his residence in New York.

“The American administration's decisions including recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving its embassy to it, removing the refugees file from the negotiating table and cutting off aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has removed it as the sole mediator of the political process, and therefore it has become important to convene an international peace conference that would lead to the formation of an international mechanism to sponsor the peace process,” he said.

“The dangerous Israeli actions, such as continuing settlement policy and attacks targeting the land and people, cannot be tolerated, and we will continue our efforts at all levels and take decisions to protect our people and preserve their rights guaranteed by international law,” he said.

The President referred to the issues of Al Aqsa Mosque and Khan al-Ahmar village near Jerusalem, stressing the seriousness of these issues and that they will not be taken lightly, praising at the same time the steadfastness of the people at Khan al-Ahmar who confront the occupation and its plans with their bare chests.

He stressed the seriousness of Israeli attempts to violate the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque, warning that any decision that would affect its Islamic religious status will drag the region into further tension and deterioration.

With regard to national reconciliation, Abbas said the Palestinian leadership is keen to achieve national unity and end the division in order to face the threats facing the national cause.

He said that achieving reconciliation is clear: the implementation of what was agreed on in the Cairo Agreement on October 17, 2017, which stipulates that the National Reconciliation Government should be able to perform its functions fully in the Gaza Strip and hold general elections as soon as possible in order to reunite the homeland and end division.

He stressed the role of the Palestinian community in the US in bringing the just Palestinian cause  before the American decision makers. “You are the voice of your people and you are fighting here in defense of the right of your people to freedom and independence,” he said.