Speaking before the Cairo Peace Summit, which opened today in Cairo, President Mahmoud Abbas stressed that peace and security can be achieved only by implementing the two-state solution and resolving the refugee issue based on United Nations Resolution 194.
The President condemned Israel’s “barbaric aggression” on the Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate halt to the aggression and the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow food, medicine and other necessities into the besieged Gaza Strip, warning against attempts to displace the Palestinian people in Gaza out of it, stressing “We will not leave, we will not leave, we will not leave, and we will remain in our land.”
He called on the international community to assume its responsibilities to protect the Palestinian people and convene an international peace conference on the Middle East conflict.
Following is an unofficial translation of the text of the President’s speech:
“This meeting is being held today in extremely difficult and cruel circumstances, as our defenseless Palestinian people face brutal and barbaric aggression by the Israeli war machine, which violates prohibitions and international humanitarian law by targeting thousands of civilians, the majority of whom are children and women, and the facilities without discrimination, especially hospitals, schools and shelters for people who survived the blight of war and the bombing of their homes. We warn against attempts to displace our people in Gaza to outside it, and we also warn against any expulsion of Palestinians from their homes or displacement from Jerusalem or the West Bank. We will not accept displacement, and we will remain steadfast on our land no matter the challenges.
“We have called from day one to stop this barbaric aggression immediately, to open humanitarian corridors to bring in relief and medical supplies, and to provide water and electricity, but the Israeli occupation government did not allow this. On the other hand, we warn against the continuation of attacks by the occupation forces and settler terrorists against defenseless civilians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and attacks by extremist groups on Islamic and Christian sanctities.
“We reiterate our complete rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides, and the release of all civilians, prisoners, and detainees. We affirm that we are committed to international legitimacy, the signed agreements, the rejection of violence, and the adoption of political and legal methods to achieve our national goals. These are the policies of the State of Palestine and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
“This is the moment in which everyone must be wise and look toward the future, and we see that the cycle of violence is renewed every now and then because of the absence of justice and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. Here, we affirm that security and peace are achieved by implementing the two-state solution, based on international legitimacy, ending the Israeli occupation of the land of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and resolving the issue of Palestinian refugees in accordance with United Nations Resolution No. 194, with international guarantees and a specific timetable for implementation.
“I call for the Security Council to assume its responsibilities to protect the Palestinian people, for the State of Palestine to gain full membership, for the rest of the world to recognize the State of Palestine, and to convene an international peace conference under international sponsorship to achieve the desired goal of peace.
“I thank his excellency Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, for his invitation and hosting of this conference, and I thank all participating parties, and everyone who offers a helping hand to our Palestinian people in these difficult and decisive circumstances.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we will not leave, we will not leave, we will not leave, and we will remain in our land.”
Source: WAFA
