Palestinian President voices commitment to two-state solution

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his call for the establishment of a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital during his 45-minute encounter with his American counterpart Donald Trump on Tuesday.

In a joint news conference, Abbas stressed that the Palestinian people’s attainment of freedom and independence was the key to peace and stability in the world, “so that the children of Palestine and Israel enjoy a safe, stable, and prosperous future.”

“Once again, we reassert to you our positions of accepting the two-state solution along the borders of 1967 — the state of Palestine with its capital as East Jerusalem, living alongside the state of Israel in peace and security and good neighbourhood, as well as resolving the entire final status issues based on international law and international long-term resolutions, and respecting side agreements which sets the tone for the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative in accordance with what has been reaffirmed in the most recent Arab Summit in Jordan,” Abbas said.

On his part, Trump stressed the need to forge a historic peace deal, without mentioning any reference to the two-state solution or to an independent Palestinian state.

“I am committed to trying to achieve a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians,” Trump told a press conference at PA headquarters in Bethlehem, without mentioning the possibility of Palestinian statehood. “I intend to do everything I can to help achieve that goal.”

Before Trump departed for his first foreign trip as president, H.R. McMaster, his national security adviser, said the American leader would express support for Palestinian “self-determination.”

Abbas underlined that the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis was not based on religion.

“As you have witnessed during your historic visit of holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem, and today in Bethlehem, the conflict is not between religions, for respecting religions and prophets is an integral part of our religion and faith. And we are keen to keep the door open to dialogue with our Israeli neighbours,” Abbas told his American counterpart, stressing, however, that the real problem was in occupation and settlements.

“Our fundamental problem is with the occupation and settlements, and failure of Israel to recognise the state of Palestine in the same way we recognise it, which undermines the realisation of the two-state solution,” Abbas said.