Abbas says peace deal without Palestinian approval "doomed to fail"

RAMALLAH, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that any peace initiative that undermines international legitimacy resolutions or fails to get approval from Palestinians will be "doomed to fail."

The comments, made by Abbas' spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh, came against the backdrop that U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce his "century deal" in June amid rejection from the Palestinians.

According to his statements to the official news agency WAFA, he said that "any attempt to circumvent the clear and firm Palestinian position and the bases of the international legitimacy... will only lead to further deterioration and tension in the region and the world."

He warned against "belittling the potential of the Palestinian and Arab peoples and to play with fire."

He stressed that the path to a lasting peace would combine the implementation of the U.S. resolution with respect to the Palestinian position. Enditem