MAKKAH, Saturday, June 01, 2019 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas warned today of very difficult and unpredictable times ahead, which may open the door for choices with unforeseen consequences.

“We are coming to an extremely difficult time, which may open the door to choices whose consequences may not be promising, including making critical decisions,” he said in his address distributed to the members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

He reiterated his strong criticism of the United States position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict saying it encourages the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

“Who encourages the Israeli occupation state to act as a state above international law is the American administration that destroyed the foundations and terms of reference of the peace process and took measures that contradict the international legitimacy, which we and the international community have rejected,” he said.

The President urged the OIC to provide the Palestinians with a financial safety net to help them face the Israeli and American sanctions that are threatening the survival of the Palestinian Authority.

Following is an unofficial translation of President Mahmoud Abbas’ address:

"It is my pleasure in these blessed days of Ramadan to extend to you, my brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, mu thanks and appreciation for hosting this Islamic Summit in Makkah. We have full confidence that it will achieve great success, as we have faith in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its king and people, in defending the issues of our Islamic nation, foremost of which is the Palestinian question, and we say with a loud voice that the security and stability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and all the Arab countries are an integral part of our security and stability.

“We also pay tribute to His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his previous presidency of the OIC Summit and for his honorable and noble positions in defending the cause of our Palestinian people.

“This year marks 71 years have passed since the Nakba and dispersion of our people, 52 years since Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and 25 years for the signing of peace agreements with Israel and our recognition of international legitimacy. Yet, our people continue to suffer under Israeli occupation, which has intensified its fierce campaigns to steal our land and abuse our people, as well as its fierce campaign against Jerusalem with a goal to obliterate its identity and history while attacking its Islamic and Christian holy places, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is currently subjected to incursions and excavations in order to complete its plans for dividing it, a move we do not accept and our people are going to face as it is their legitimate right to defend the land and holy sites.

“Who encourages the Israeli occupation state to act as a state above international law is the American administration that destroyed the foundations and terms of reference of the peace process and took measures that contradict the international legitimacy, which we and the international community have rejected.

“In this regard, we appreciate the constant coordination and sincere efforts to defend the holy sites in Jerusalem by His Majesty King Abdullah II, the Custodian of the holy places. We also thank the honorable positions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Jerusalem Committee. Our thanks also go to the leaders of our Islamic nation for their positions and their political and diplomatic support in all international forums in defense of Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause.

“The Israeli occupation state has recently illegally deducted a large part of our money, which it collects on our behalf and is known as clearing money, on the pretext that we pay salaries to the families of the martyrs, the prisoners and the wounded, whom we cannot abandon even if that is the last thing we have. This has placed us in a suffocating financial crisis that hinders the work of our national institutions.

“In the light of these difficult conditions and the unjust siege imposed on our people, we urge you, our brothers the leaders, to activate the decisions of the previous summits on providing a financial safety net to enable our people to stand firm and steadfast. We are highly grateful to the countries that have fulfilled their obligations and call on the other brotherly countries to follow suit.

“We have spared no effort to achieve national reconciliation, and we have dealt with it in a positive manner. We continue with all the efforts exerted in this regard, especially the efforts of the Arab Republic of Egypt, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi through the implementation of the October 2017 agreement and to go to elections.

“We reaffirm that we will not agree to the sale of Jerusalem, nor abandon our national constants and the rights of our people. Our people will remain steadfast on its soil, and will not bow except to God alone and will continue with their legitimate struggle until they achieve their national goals.

““We are coming to an extremely difficult time, which may open the door to choices whose consequences may not be promising, including making critical decisions. We are confident that you will be, as you have always been in our struggle, an impenetrable barrier and support in facing attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause.

“Despite all this, we remain committed to peace and seek to achieve it in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the terms of reference of the peace process, in particular the 2002 Arab peace initiative.

“Thank you, brother of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and your people for their hospitality. I salute all of you, brotherly leaders, for your support, your positions and your peoples towards Palestine and Jerusalem. We assure you that we will remain steadfast in our country and will continue the march we started to defend our people and our holy sites, especially Jerusalem, the capital of our independent and eternal state.”

M.K.