Abbas: The US “committed a crime” when it declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in speech to PLO Central Council: "We will not accept the deals the US wants to impose on us. We will not accept its mediation after the crime it committed against Jerusalem [by declaring it Israel’s capital] … We will not agree to be an Authority without authority, and will not accept an occupation without [exacting] a price from the occupation forces." On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.