Abbas tells world not to abandon Palestinians

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Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (C) speaks during a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah.- AFP
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (C) speaks during a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah.- AFP

Jerusalem "is our eternal capital, to which we belong, just as it belongs to us", said Abbas.

By Mustafa Al Zarooni (In Cairo)


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Published: Wed 17 Jan 2018, 10:00 PM

Last updated: Fri 19 Jan 2018, 2:04 PM

In an emotional address to the 'World Conference in Support of Jerusalem' in Cairo, President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday urged the world not to abandon the Palestinians.
Condemning as sinful US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise occupied Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Abbas called on Arabs, Muslims and others to visit Jerusalem, assuring them that such visits would not mean normalising relations with Israel.
"Visiting a prisoner does not mean normalisation with the jailor," he said.
"Jerusalem will be a gate for peace only if it is Palestine's capital, and it will be a gate of war, fear and the absence of security and stability, God forbid, if it is not," Abbas said. "It's the gate for peace and war and President Trump must choose between the two."
Jerusalem "is our eternal capital, to which we belong, just as it belongs to us", said Abbas. "Visits by Muslims, Arabs and Christians lend support to the city, amount to the protection of its holy sites and give support to its residents."
"If there are no visitors, the occupier can deal with the citizens as they wish and kick them out," he added.
Abbas said the US has disqualified itself from continuing as a broker in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
He said that none of the 705 UN General Assembly and 86 Security Council decisions issued on Palestine has been implemented, which means that the US has no right to continue the role of a mediator. He also emphasised that all countries around the world should recognise the Palestinian state, including the Vatican.
Addressing the gathering, Al Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Al Tayeb called for the year 2018 to be named the Year of Jerusalem. He urged the media to promote awareness about the city in cooperation with the Arab League and other Islamic institutions and civil society institutions.
Al Tayeb said that despite the American decision on Jerusalem, free thinking people around the world backed the Palestinians who have been suffering since April 1948.
"Al Azhar also rejects the Zionist occupation of Al Aqsa mosque complex which also erases the Christian characteristics of the city," he noted.
malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com


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