RAMALLAH, February 15, 2018 (WAFA) - President Mahmoud Abbas’ speech at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on February 20 will state the final Palestinian position and strategy following the decision of US President Donald Trump on Jerusalem, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Riyad Malki, said on Thursday.

Malki said in remarks to the official Voice of Palestine radio that the US administration has already started to implement the so-called deal of the century through the actions it has already taken.

He said the US declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as well as the freeze of a large part of the UN financial assistance to UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, an attempt to end the refugee issue is the actual implementation of this deal.

He said the deal was reached with the Israeli side only and the US administration decided to adopt the Israeli position as an official American position.

Malki said the Palestinian leadership‘s refusal to keep Washington as a broker for the peace process meant it had entered into a direct showdown with the US administration.

Malki described US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s recent visit to the region as part of the Palestinian-American showdown and an attempt to discourage some countries from adopting the Palestinian position.

Meanwhile, Palestine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, told Voice of Palestine on Thursday that current Palestinian diplomatic efforts at the UNSC pave the way for President Abbas’ upcoming speech.

He said the speech is part of ongoing Palestinian efforts at the UN to confront the “illegal and unilateral” US step on Jerusalem and an attempt to consider options such as a new multilateral sponsorship for the peace process that would replace the US role.

He said the UNSC’s session is going to be attended by UN officials and diplomats, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

K.F./M.K.