Yesterday, the European Union criticized the US President Donald Trump's plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, known as the "Deal of the Century", while Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its support for efforts to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.
In detail, the European Union’s Foreign Minister, Joseph Borrell, considered in a statement that “the American initiative, as presented on January 28, is moving away from internationally agreed standards.” He added: “The European Union is reminded of its commitment to a negotiated solution based on the coexistence of two countries. The basis of the 1967 borders, with equal exchange of lands, by agreement between the two parties, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, integrated, permanent and sovereign woman, living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition. ”
Borrell considered that "building a just and lasting peace calls for direct negotiations between the two parties on the outstanding issues related to the final status," noting that this includes especially issues related to borders, the status of Jerusalem, security and the refugee issue, and stressed that the European Union calls on the parties to renew their commitment and refrain from any step Unilateralism that contradicts international law can increase tension.
The European official stated that the European Union “is particularly concerned about the statements regarding the possible annexation of the Jordan Valley and other parts of the West Bank,” adding: “In line with international law and relevant Security Council decisions, the European Union does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over the territories occupied since 1967, the measures Aiming at annexing those areas, if applied, cannot pass without objecting to them.
In a related context, the Saudi Council of Ministers, during its meeting yesterday, reaffirmed the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the efforts aimed at reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, noting the great efforts and pioneering efforts made by the Kingdom in supporting the brotherly Palestinian people, and standing by its side in all international forums And, including her presentation of the Arab Peace Initiative 2002, expressing her appreciation for the efforts of the American administration to develop a comprehensive peace plan between the two sides.
The Council stressed that the Kingdom's support for the efforts to advance the negotiation wheel, confirms that the success of these efforts requires that their ultimate goal is to achieve a just and lasting solution that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
For his part, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed yesterday the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic position rejecting the "Deal of the Century". After receiving in Ramallah, he said the Russian President's envoy, Alexander Lavrov, that the American plan "violates all decisions of international legitimacy and international law."
He added that they also violated the "foundations of the political process to end the occupation and embody the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the 1967 borders." Abbas appreciated Russia's positions in support of the rights of the Palestinian people, especially its position on the "deal of the century", and its emphasis on the need to adhere to the references International according to the two-state solution.
The Palestinian News Agency "Wafa" quoted the Russian President's envoy as affirming his country's supportive stance to solve the Palestinian issue on the basis of a two-state solution and the implementation of international legitimacy decisions, and that the deal announced by the US administration is not viable.
In the same context, the Palestinian Prime Minister, Muhammad Shtayyeh, affirmed that the monopoly and exclusivity of the American sponsorship of the peace process and negotiations with Israel will not be accepted.
In a statement issued by his office after meeting in Ramallah, the Japanese envoy for the Middle East peace process, Masaharu Kono, Shtayyeh called for international sponsorship and an international peace conference that includes America in any future negotiations and the resumption of the peace process, in accordance with international legitimacy decisions, the Security Council and the Arab Peace Initiative .
The statement quoted the Japanese envoy as affirming his country's continued support for a two-state solution in accordance with the United Nations and Security Council resolutions, the right of the Palestinian people to determine their own destiny, and the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders.
UN draft resolution against the "deal of the century"
The Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, announced yesterday that he is preparing to put a Palestinian draft resolution before the United Nations General Assembly regarding the rejection of the American peace plan with Israel, known as the "Deal of the Century".
Al-Maliki said to the official Palestinian radio, that the Palestinian move will continue to enable the Palestinian position, until the return to the United Nations General Assembly, under the item "Uniting for Peace", in order to put forward a draft resolution to consolidate and stabilize the Palestinian position.
He clarified that the mentioned draft resolution would include affirming the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, embodying their state, ending the occupation, and adopting the concept of a two-state solution, and would also include that any initiative that detracts from the right of the Palestinians and does not depend on Palestinian legitimacy is rejected.
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