President Abbas addressing the peace forum in Ramallah. (WAFA Images / Thayer Ghanayem) 

RAMALLAH, Wednesday, February 06, 2019 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas told a Palestinian-Israeli delegation on Wednesday that he believes in peace more than ever before.

"I believe in peace more than ever before and I do not want war," he said, expressing hope that the next Israeli elections will produce the one who truly believes in peace, stressing that he is ready to work with him to bring peace to the region.

President Abbas’ remarks came at the opening ceremony of the Palestinian Forum for Freedom and Peace held at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.

The meeting was attended by Mohammad Madani, in charge of Palestinian relations with Israelis, former member of the Israeli Parliament, Talab al-Sane, the president of the Israeli  Peace Parliament, Ran Cohen and other Palestinian and Israeli figures.

"This room is big enough to all followers of the three heavenly religions,” said President Abbas. “How can Palestine not accommodate it? We have lived in this country on the basis of love and peace. Why do others try to drag us into violence and hatred?"

He added: "This conference came late, but it is better than it never. It is a product of working with the peace-loving camps in Palestine and Israel. We will not allow extremist minds seeking violence to end peace."

He said, "This conference is a good start for the coexistence of the two peoples in peace, especially in light of the deteriorating situation in the region," praising the efforts by this forum to find a language of dialogue between the two peoples, the language of peace.

"Our recognition of Israel after the Oslo agreement reflects our deep belief in the peace we are waiting for so far. We want to live in peace on the basis of a two-state solution for the two peoples according to international resolutions," he said.

"We hoped that the negotiations between us and the Israeli side would continue, but Israeli extremism killed (former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak) Rabin and dragged this region into violence. They want more extremism by shedding the blood of our children through repeated attacks on our people."

The President expressed hope that “the next Israeli elections will produce a government that seeks peace, and we will have our hand extended to work with it to bring peace to the region and to all the peoples of the world. But without solving the Palestinian issue, there will not be stability and security, not in this region nor in the world.”

M.K.