CAIRO, April 21, 2009 (WAFA) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that the Palestinian situation is very difficult, unbearable, and unsustainable, adding that Palestinians need Arab political and financial support to face future challenges.
Speaking at the extraordinary session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level in Cairo, President Abbas said he will call the Palestinian parliament; the Central Council, the second highest Palestinian decision making body after the National Council, to convene mid-May to make the appropriate decisions regarding the relationship with Israel and the United States.
He stressed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not believe in peace and claims the absence of a Palestinian partner, stressing that Israel has broken all signed agreements and violated the Paris Agreement by deducting Palestinian tax revenues.
He stressed that Israel, with the encouragement of the US, had not implemented a single international resolution since 1947.
Commenting on the American so-called "deal of the century", the President inquired that after the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and transferring its Embassy there, halting its aid to UNRWA, and closing the office of the PLO in Washington, what is left of this deal?.
On the national reconciliation, the President said he is determined to achieve reconciliation, despite Hamas‘ rejection.
"We are fulfilling our responsibilities towards our people in the Gaza Strip. We have continued to supply Gaza with a budget of about $100 million a month, but Unfortunately, Hamas is focusing its attention on maneuvers through which it attempts to gain a temporary truce here or there, and gain some facilities." he pointed out.
President Abbas noted that the Israeli government is transferring money to Hamas to keep the split going; as Netanyahu has previously stated that he allows money into Gaza in order to keep the Palestinians divided.
The President called on the Arab countries to provide political and financial support to help the Palestinian Authority face the challenges ahead and preserve the Palestinian national project.
He also reiterated his rejection of Israel‘s annexation of the occupied Arab territories.
"We do not accept Israel‘s annexation of Jerusalem. We do not accept the annexation of the [Syrian] Golan Heights and we do not accept the annexation of the Lebanese Shebaa Farms," President Abbas said.
A.D/T.R.
