Abbas to Europeans: We want to “build bridges” with Israel; “we condemn all acts of violence”
“During a press conference held by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, President Abbas called on European companies and other foreign companies who operate in the settlements to stop working in them because they are violating International Law with this [work.] […]
He noted that this call is not directed against the State of Israel and said: ‘We want to live beside it and build bridges for peace with it; this call is directed against settlements that were built on the State of Palestine’s lands, which has been occupied since 1967 and whose capital is East Jerusalem.’ The President said: ‘We greatly appreciate the European Union’s political positions and its announcements and resolutions, which are consistent with International Law and international legitimacy with anything connected to the settlements and the Israeli occupation steps in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, the capital of our state Palestine. We stress that we want it (Jerusalem) to be open to believers of the three monotheistic religions – Islam, Christianity and Judaism.’ […]
The President said: ‘Your honor [Van Rompuy] knows that we have fulfilled all our promises and commitments to our friends in the European Union, including, returning to negotiations the moment the State of Palestine’s status is upgraded in the UN, in order to attain real, just and lasting peace that will lead to the end of the occupation and allow our people to [effectuate] the right to live in freedom and dignity in its homeland and with sovereignty over its land.’ He added: ‘On the same matter, we are working with President Obama and with [US] Secretary of State John Kerry to bring about the negotiations’ success and attain the long-awaited peace…’ […]
During a joint press conference with the Belgian Prime Minister, President Abbas… asserted the [Palestinians’] sincere intentions to continue to keep on the negotiations’ schedule that was formulated by the American Secretary of State. [This will be done] despite the magnitude of the obstacles with which we are contending on a daily basis due to the ongoing settlement activity, the settlers’ acts, the damage to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other provocative acts that sour the atmosphere and impede the current American efforts.
The President added: ‘We condemn all acts of violence, especially those directed against civilians of either side.’”
From WAFA, official PA news agency
He noted that this call is not directed against the State of Israel and said: ‘We want to live beside it and build bridges for peace with it; this call is directed against settlements that were built on the State of Palestine’s lands, which has been occupied since 1967 and whose capital is East Jerusalem.’ The President said: ‘We greatly appreciate the European Union’s political positions and its announcements and resolutions, which are consistent with International Law and international legitimacy with anything connected to the settlements and the Israeli occupation steps in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, the capital of our state Palestine. We stress that we want it (Jerusalem) to be open to believers of the three monotheistic religions – Islam, Christianity and Judaism.’ […]
The President said: ‘Your honor [Van Rompuy] knows that we have fulfilled all our promises and commitments to our friends in the European Union, including, returning to negotiations the moment the State of Palestine’s status is upgraded in the UN, in order to attain real, just and lasting peace that will lead to the end of the occupation and allow our people to [effectuate] the right to live in freedom and dignity in its homeland and with sovereignty over its land.’ He added: ‘On the same matter, we are working with President Obama and with [US] Secretary of State John Kerry to bring about the negotiations’ success and attain the long-awaited peace…’ […]
During a joint press conference with the Belgian Prime Minister, President Abbas… asserted the [Palestinians’] sincere intentions to continue to keep on the negotiations’ schedule that was formulated by the American Secretary of State. [This will be done] despite the magnitude of the obstacles with which we are contending on a daily basis due to the ongoing settlement activity, the settlers’ acts, the damage to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other provocative acts that sour the atmosphere and impede the current American efforts.
The President added: ‘We condemn all acts of violence, especially those directed against civilians of either side.’”
From WAFA, official PA news agency