Roundup: Abbas criticizes Israeli settlements, says ready to work with U.S. for peace

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas criticized Israel on Tuesday for deciding to construct 2,500 new housing units in the West Bank settlements.

However, Abbas said he is keen to work with the new U.S. administration to reach a just peace.

A press statement from Abbas's office said that the Israeli government's approval to build 2,500 new housing units in the West Bank settlements "is condemned, rejected and will have consequences," adding that the decision "is provocative and challenges the entire world."

Aide to Abbas, Nabil Abu Rdineh, said in a press statement published on the official Palestinian WAFA news agency website that "what is currently required from the international community is a serious stance to face this challenge," adding that "this decision will obstruct all the efforts made towards achieving peace and stability."

Furthermore, Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) executive committee, Saed Erekat, stated that the decision to build 2,500 units in the West Bank and 560 units in the occupied east Jerusalem challenges the United Nations Security Council resolution 2334, which condemns the settlements.

"The Israeli position undermines the two-state solution, replacing it with the principle of a single state with two regimes. I mean apartheid," said Erekat in a press statement issued by his office. "Israel wants to keep the situation as it is and push the region towards further violence."

In addition, he called on the international community "to understand that defeating terrorism and replacing it by peace and stability depend on ending the occupation, establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital and resolving all permanent status questions."

Israeli Radio reported on Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman approved the construction of 2,500 housing units in the West Bank settlements, adding that the units will be incorporated into the larger settlements.

A Palestinian diplomat told "Voice of Palestine" Radio that Palestinian leadership began moving in three different levels to implement the UNSC's resolution 2334, and called on Israel to halt its settlement expansion activities in Palestinian territories.

Permanent representative of Palestine's non-member observer state in the UN, Reyad Mansour, said the first level is the security council and the second level is the UN Secretary General's report which he presents to the Security Council every three months to ensure that the resolution is implemented.

"The third level is addressing all specialized companies and agencies explaining the difference between Israel and Palestinian territories, including east Jerusalem," said Mansour, adding "We will ask these companies and agencies to stop dealing with our territories as part of Israel."

He also stated that the Palestinian mission in the UN will strengthen its ties with countries like Jordan in addition to Arab and Islamic Groups, non-aligned countries and the European group.

Plus, he called on the Security Council to start implementing the latest resolution related to the settlements.

Meanwhile, Abbas stated that he is keen to work with the new American Administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in an attempt to reach a just peace.

Abbas's remarks were made during a meeting held in Ramallah with David Bloom, the United States consul in Jerusalem.

According to WAFA's report, Abbas stressed that he is interested in cooperating with the United States of America "to boost bilateral ties in order to reach a just peace in order to stabilize the region, secure it and rid it of violence and terrorism."

Diplomatic aide to Abbas, Majdi el-Khaldi, said in press statements that President Abbas is willing to remain in contact with the new American administration to attain peace, noting that "one of the important points is that the US Administration must start listening to the Palestinian side."

"I believe the coming step of the American Administration of President Donald Trump is to work jointly with other states as it cannot work alone on the Israeli-Palestinian issue," said el-Khaldi, adding that "the U.S. has to work with the Quartet and other Arab states to find a way to end the Israeli occupation."

The U.S.-sponsored bilateral talks between Israelis and Palestinians ended in vain in April 2014 following nine months without progress due to deep differences on Israeli settlements, borders, security and the recognition of a Palestinian state. Endit