Abbas blasts US support for Israel's lawlessness

Speaking to African leaders on Sunday, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas lashed out at the US for encouraging Israel’s mistreatment of his people.

“What encourages Israel to behave [as if it was] above the law is the US administration,” Abbas told the 32nd Summit of African Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. Palestine has observer status with the African Union.

Blasting US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Abbas added:

We remain determined to fight for the realisation of the two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

Referring to the US decision to cut all aid to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, he also said: “Those who stand against the two-state solution are engaged in drying up all funds to the Palestinian people, neglecting the rights of the Palestinians.”

“We reject any American interference in Palestine and in Venezuela as well,” he said.

“We call upon African nations not to move their embassies [to Israel] to Jerusalem,” he said. “We call upon the international community to help us move the peace process and hold national elections.”

The African Union, as a pan-African body, has expressed unanimous support for the Palestinian cause.

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