'Palestine still believes in 2-state solution': Abbas

By Esat Firat

RAMALLAH, Palestine

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday said Palestine still believes in peace on the basis of the principle of a two-state solution, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Speaking at a meeting with a delegation from the Israeli "Peace Now" movement at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, Abbas said: "Peace must be reached no matter how great the challenges and difficulties it faces, for a better future for our children and our youth from both peoples."

"Despite all the difficult circumstances surrounding us, we still believe in peace on the basis of the resolutions of international legitimacy and the principle of a two-state solution to establish our civil state, which works to spread culture and peace in the world," he said

Abbas recalled that the contacts with the U.S. administration have been cut since President Donald Trump announced the transfer of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, declaring it the capital of Israel, and trying to redefine the Palestinian refugee in violation of the resolutions of international legitimacy.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Middle East conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.

Trump, however, sparked international uproar for his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The Palestinians have snubbed calls from the Trump administration to return to the negotiating table, arguing that Washington gave up its status as a neutral mediator by making the declaration.

About the U.S. decisions to end funding for he United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Abbas stressed that this issue must be resolved in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.

On Friday, the U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington "will no longer commit further funding" to the UNRWA.

The U.S. was by far UNRWA's largest funder, giving $350 million annually, or about one-quarter of the agency's budget.

Earlier last week, UNRWA had warned if Washington went through with its funding cut it would likely result in greater instability.

Established in 1949, UNRWA provides critical aid to more than 5 million Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.