SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Monday, 25 February 2019 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday called for holding an international peace conference, to be organized through cooperation among Arab and European countries, as well as forming an international multilateral mechanism to sponsor negotiations that should end the longest occupation known in modern history, and achieve peace and security for all.

Addressing the first Arab League-European Union summit held in Sharm al-Sheikh on Sunday, President Abbas stressed that, “any talk about the “deal of the century” or any other plan that is not founded on the decisions of international legitimacy will fail, particularly as long as they do not produce an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Following is the full text of President Mahmoud Abbas’ speech at the first Arab League-European Union summit:

Your Excellency President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi,

Your Majesties, Excellences and Highnesses,

Dear Friends,

I am delighted to meet all of you here in the Arab-European Summit in Sharm al-Sheikh. I wish this Summit succeeds in achieving its objectives for the benefit of our peoples and the entire world. I would like to pay tribute to the admirable positions of the EU member states. Since the declaration of the Venice Summit of 1980 to date, European countries have affirmed their support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, freedom and independence, and called for the two-state solution and ending the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine on 1967 borders including occupied East Jerusalem, so that the State of Palestine can live next to the State of Israel in security, stability and good neighbourly relations.

On this occasion we would like to commend the European position in rejecting all attempts to alter the character and identity of the city of Jerusalem, and change its historical status that has existed since before 1967. We also commend the position of EU member states in rejecting the measures taken by the US administration in Jerusalem, and condemning settlement activities and the Israeli decision to close down the operations of UNRWA. All these measures contradict international law and legitimacy, particularly UN Resolutions 478 and 2334. 

We also thank you, dear friends, for the valuable aid in all areas granted by the EU member states toward building the institutions of our state, based on the rule of law. Our gratitude also goes to UNRWA for their constant support to our endeavours in disseminating the culture of peace and counter-terrorism in our region and the world.

At this time Israel is stifling the fundamentals of Palestinian economy using means that violate the agreements signed between us. The latest of these measures was the Israeli decision to deduct from the Palestinian clearance funds, an act that is considered a piracy of the Palestinian people‘s money. We categorically refuse the Israeli measure and we also refused to receive the remaining funds after the deduction. This will have catastrophic consequences on the life of the Palestinian people. In this regard, I urge EU countries to activate Article 2 of the European-Israeli Association Agreement of 1995, and arbitrate the issue of Israel‘s deduction of Palestinian tax revenues as well as issues related to human rights violations.

Here we value the position of the EU calling on Israel to respect signed agreements. We also thank the UN Secretary-General who warned against the dangers of unilateral decisions.

In this regard, and due to the exceptional and difficult conditions, we call on Arab and European countries to form a financial safety net for the Palestinian budget in order to enable the Palestinians to confront the Israeli actions against our people.

The illegal measures taken by the Israeli government include the demolition of EU-funded Palestinian establishments and obstructing the implementation of the Interim Association Agreement on Trade and Cooperation signed between EU and Palestine in 1997. These Israeli measures call for a response from the EU that defines the relationship with Israel based on EU’s commitment to the principles of the peace process, the two-state settlement on pre June 1967 borders, and the principles of human rights and international law.

Dear Friends,

All states and peoples in our region and in the world have gained their independence from colonialism, but the Palestinians are the only ones who have not yet gained their freedom and independence. They have been the scapegoat of a colonial conspiracy: their land and the land of their ancestors has been usurped; they have been expelled and displaced and more than half of them are now living in refugee camps. More than 6 million Palestinian refugees are living in tragically agonizing conditions awaiting a just solution for their plight.

Thirty years ago we were told that the sole path to resolve the Palestinian cause was for the PLO to recognize international law, accept the right of Israel to exist and shun violence and terrorism.  We held the National Council in Algeria in 1988, declared independence, and accepted the decisions of international legitimacy especially UN Resolutions 242 and 338. We also engaged in international dialogues and negotiations that culminated in the Oslo Accords. 

In spite of all our efforts, the Israeli government had a different opinion. It continued to violate signed agreements; it went on with its settlement policy; it transformed the interim military occupation into a state of permanent colonization; it closed all doors before the two-state settlement on 1967 borders and continued its plan to impose the apartheid regime, which has now become a reality on the ground.

On the other hand, the successive US administrations have continuously helped Israel to carry out a policy of continuous evasion. But the current US administration has been exceptional in fomenting Israel to act as a country above the law and providing it with impunity and with protection from accountability at a time when Israel turned against the peace process principles and terms of reference and violated international law. Accordingly, the United States is not qualified to play the role of mediator alone in the peace process after all these actions which are against the Palestinian rights and international legitimacy.

Any talk about the “deal of the century” or any other plan that is not founded on the decisions of international legitimacy will fail, particularly as long as they do not produce an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Here comes the balanced European role that is committed to international law and that has been and still is crucial to the creation of stability and peace in our region. However, this role is no longer sufficient.

I am addressing you as a friend who has worked with you to achieve peace for many years. Is it not the time for the European countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so, especially in light of your belief in the two-state solution? Also note that your recognition of the State of Palestine shall not be an alternative to negotiations. Moreover, your recognition is not a step taken against Israel for you have already recognized the State of Israel and supported it since its inception. You are also defending its security. But not to recognize Palestinian right to self-determination and the establishment of a state of their own is a step contrary to your values and of the European principles. Here we must extend our gratitude to some of the European countries who have already recognized the State of Palestine. We also thank the parliaments of European countries that recommended the recognition of the State of Palestine to their governments.

I would like to remind you that there are 13 million Palestinians all scattered over the world, and they all aspire, in fact deserve, to have an independent an sovereign state in their homeland that existed since the dawn of history. The Palestinian people, dear friends, will not disappear from existence and will remain steadfast in their land, build their state institutions and continue their legitimate struggle for freedom and independence.

The attempts of the US administration and the government of Israel to normalize relations with Arab and Islamic countries will not bring about peace or security to Israel. Implementing the Arab peace initiative of 2002 is the only way to achieve peace.

Dear Friends, as for the current challenges and our joint vision for peace, we see that it is incumbent upon all of us to take practical steps to achieve peace, beginning by confronting the Israeli settlement enterprises in our occupied land, and entrenching the vision of a two-state solution by carrying out irreversible political and legal measures, including recognition of the State of Palestine by European countries, recognition of the State of Palestine as a full member in the UN, as well as the further empowerment of the State of Palestine.

In this regard, we call for holding an international peace conference, to be organized through cooperation among Arab and European countries, as well as forming an international multilateral mechanism to sponsor negotiations that should end the longest occupation known in modern history, and achieve peace and security for all.

For our part, we are currently working on the formation of a new government and preparing for legislative elections. We hope that you will help us in organizing and observing the elections in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. We shall not give up our people in the Gaza Strip. We pay around USD 100 million a month to Gaza to ensure that our people there receive basic services.

I thank you again your majesties, excellences and heads of Arab and European delegations for your noble positions. I look forward for your support in empowering our people to attain freedom, sovereignty and independence in the State of Palestine. You have gratefully invested in building the national institutions and infrastructure of the State of Palestine. We stress our commitment to political and diplomatic non-violent work to achieve our national goals. We will continue to stretch our hands for peace based on the two-state solution on pre-June 1967 borders and the decision of international legitimacy.

Thank you all.

 T.R.