Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday told the UN Security Council that the world should reject President Donald Trump’s Middle East plan, calling it an outside imposition that cannot bring lasting peace.
Abbas appealed to the international community, saying that peace with Israel remained “achievable” and that “I have come to build a just partnership.”
He reiterated his position on the US, saying, “We will not accept the US as the sole mediator.”
Abbas held a large map of Israel and Palestine as laid out by Trump’s long-awaited January 28 announcement; Abbas called it a “Swiss cheese” deal that would limit Palestinian sovereignty.
“I would like to say to Mr. Donald Trump that his plan cannot achieve peace and security as it cancels international legitimacy,” Abbas told the Security Council.
“It cancels all the rights of the Palestinians. This does not meet the aspirations of a two-state solution,” he said.
“If you impose peace, it will not last, it cannot last,” he said, asking: “What gives you the right to annex these lands?”
Abbas accused Israel, saying it had “rejected every opportunity for peace.”
“This deal is not an international partnership. This proposal was from one state, supported by another state to be imposed.”
The Palestinians have sought to rally international support against the plan, which Trump unveiled alongside Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who has since moved forward on plans to annex vast parts of the West Bank.
While the Palestinians have refused to deal with Trump, seeing him as biased, Abbas said his first encounters with the billionaire turned president were positive.
Earlier on Tuesday, thousands of Palestinians packed Ramallah’s Manara Square to reject US President Donald Trump’s Mideast peace plan and to show support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as he tries to garner support at the United Nations for a resolution opposing the initiative.