Abbas "reaches out" to Israel for peace and Biden supports the two states "on the 1967 borders"

The US president acknowledges that the time is not right to "restart negotiations" between Israelis and Palestinians

The president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, stated this Friday that he "reaches out his hand" to Israel for peace talks with a view to ending the conflict, within the framework of a press conference with the president of the United States, Joe Biden, who has shown support for a two-state solution "at the 1967 borders."

"I take this opportunity (...) to say that I extend my hand to the leaders of Israel to achieve peace," said Abbas, who stressed that "the opportunity for a two-state solution on the 1967 borders may be available today, but it is not known what will happen in the future".

Thus, he stressed that "peace begins with Palestine and Jerusalem" and pointed out that the continuation of the current situation "will lead to an increase in tensions and the loss of hope for a better future". "If Israel wants to fulfill her obligations, she cannot continue to act as a state above the law, so she must end the occupation," she said.

"Only then will Israel be able to live in peace, security and good neighborliness with the countries and peoples of the region, based on the Arab Peace Initiative," said the Palestinian leader, who has defended that this peace will serve to achieve "a future better, for future generations and for all the peoples of the region".

Abbas has stressed that Biden is "a dear friend of Palestine" and added that his visit "shows an interest in achieving peace in the land of peace." "Our meeting has been an opportunity to discuss the consolidation of our bilateral relations and review how the United States can contribute to prepare an atmosphere for a political horizon for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace," he said.

In this sense, he has stated from the West Bank city of Bethlehem that he has conveyed to Biden "the importance of reestablishing the pillars on which the peace process was based, which are international resolutions and the two-state solution on the 1967 borders ". "After 74 years of 'Nakba', displacement and occupation, isn't it time for the occupation to end and for the steadfast Palestinian people to once again achieve their freedom and independence?" he asked.

"The key to peace and security in the region begins with recognizing the State of Palestine and allowing Palestinians to obtain their legitimate rights, in line with international resolutions, and ending all final status issues, including the Palestinian refugee issue," he argued, before reiterating that "this starts with putting an end to the occupation.

The Palestinian president has defended that his Government "has respected international resolutions" and has committed itself "to fight against violence and terrorism". "We expect steps from the United States to strengthen bilateral relations with the reopening of the US consulate in East Jerusalem and the withdrawal of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from the US terrorism list. We are not terrorists," he stressed.

Along these lines, he has asked Biden to reopen the PLO office in Washington and has shown his willingness to "remove any obstacle to achieve it." "We hope that his administration's efforts will turn the page on Israel's occupation of our land, acts of racial discrimination and apartheid against our people, and unilateral actions that undermine the two-state solution," she argued.

Finally, he has called for "the end of settlements and settler violence and that the 'status quo' be respected in Muslim and Christian holy places", while describing Palestinian journalist- American Shirín abu Aklé, killed in May in an operation by the Israeli security forces in Jenin. "The murderers of the martyr Shirín abu Aklé must be held accountable", he has settled her.

THE PALESTINIANS "DESERVE AN INDEPENDENT STATE"

For his part, Biden has described Abbas as "a friend" and has argued that his "commitment" to the two-state solution "has not changed over the years." "Two states on the 1967 borders with agreed land swaps remain the best way to achieve an equal measure of security, prosperity, freedom and democracy for Palestinians and Israelis," she argued.

"The Palestinian people deserve a State that is independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous," said Biden, who has opted for "two states for two peoples, both with deep and ancient roots in this land, living together, in peace and security. ". "Two states that respect the rights of their citizens, two peoples enjoying the same level of freedom and dignity," she added.

"Everyone must be treated with dignity, it is something basic", he said, before acknowledging that "it seems that the objective of the two states seems very far away when undignified actions such as movement and travel restrictions or daily concern for the safety of your children is real. "The Palestinian people are suffering, you can feel the pain and frustration," she lamented.

Along these lines, he stressed that "there must be a political horizon that the Palestinian people can see or at least feel." "We cannot allow despair to steal the future", she has pointed out, although he has recognized that "the moment is not the right one to restart negotiations". "At this moment, when Israel is improving its relations with neighbors in the region, we can feel the impetus to reinvigorate the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis," she explained.

The White House tenant has said that "Jerusalem must be a city for its entire population" and has called for "preserving the 'status quo' of its holy places." "The only way to fan the flame of hope is to show that things can be better," he said, before announcing the delivery of 200 million dollars (about 200 million euros) to the United Nations Agency for Refugees of Palestine in the Middle East (UNRWA) "to continue its vital work of helping the most vulnerable Palestinians, especially Palestinian children".

Biden also had words for Abu Aklé and stressed that "she was an American citizen and a proud Palestinian who carried out a very vital job in an independent environment and for democracy." "Her death of hers is a huge loss to the core work of sharing the story of the Palestinian people with the world. I hope her legacy inspires more young people to continue her work of reporting the truth and stories that are often ignored." , she has said.

In this way, he has indicated that "the United States will continue to insist on a complete and transparent investigation of his death and will continue to defend freedom of the press in all parts of the world."

"I hope that my visit will mark the beginning of a new and reinvigorated dialogue between the Palestinian Authority, the United States and the countries of the region, including Israel. Let us work together to show the people of the region, especially the youth, that the future It can be better than it is today", he stressed.

Previously, Biden had made a visit to the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, from where he announced a commitment to deliver one hundred million dollars (around one hundred million euros) to Palestinian hospitals in this area of ​​the city. "The United States will continue to work with the Palestinian leadership, the Government of Israel, and all of our international partners to ensure that the East Jerusalem hospital network remains sustainable and capable of providing the high-quality care that Palestinians deserve," she said. .