Mahmoud Abbas reject the Israeli-American "peace" plan

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas formally affirmed Tuesday before the UN Security Council to reject the Israeli-American peace plan, which would make a Palestinian state "Swiss cheese".

"We reject the Israeli-American plan" which "calls into question the legitimate rights of the Palestinians", he launched, denouncing in particular the absence of East Jerusalem in a future Palestinian state. He would make Palestine "a fragmented state", he insisted, referring to a situation of "apartheid" and the absence of sovereignty for its people.

This project uses a "two-state solution" but proposes to create a capital of a Palestinian state in Abu Dis, a suburb of Jerusalem, while the Palestinians want to make the whole of East Jerusalem their capital.

It also includes an annexation of the Israeli settlements, as well as the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, with borders breaking with the lines drawn at the time. It also provides for a demilitarized state for Palestine.

"These are our territories," said Mahmoud Abbas before the Security Council. "What gives you the right to annex them?" He asked the Israelis, calling on "the international community to put pressure on Israel" to prevent this prospect which could arise in the aftermath of the next elections. Israeli women in early March.

In a joint declaration before the Security Council meeting, the members of the European Union sitting in this body (Belgium, France, Germany, Estonia, plus former Poland member), stressed their commitment to a two-way solution States, including "a single state, independent, democratic, sovereign and viable" for the Palestinians.

Mahmoud Abbas reiterated that "the United States can no longer be the only mediator" for peace in the Middle East. He called on the "Quartet (the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations) and the members of the Security Council to organize an international peace conference", without giving further details.

Reactions to the plan have often shown moderation, the European Union has not shown itself united and in the Arab world, several countries have expressed their support for Washington, such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman or Barhein.