Mahmoud Abbas, the President of Palestine, in his video speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), stressed the necessity of supporting the two-state solution and stated that the Palestinian people seek a civilian and democratic state that lives in peace alongside Israel.
The Necessity of Protecting Lands
Abbas emphasized that the first step to preserving the idea of a two-state solution is to protect the lands on which a future Palestinian state will be built, as well as to safeguard the people who have lived in these lands for generations. He also stated that the Palestinian nation cannot be displaced due to "military occupation, settlement expansion, annexation, or settler terrorism."
The Palestinians' Plan for Independence
Abbas stated that no lasting security can be built on the occupation of another nation and the denial of that nation's legitimate rights, emphasizing that Palestinians have their plans for an independent state. He stressed the need to end the Israeli occupation to achieve a negotiated solution.
The plan that Abbas referred to includes protecting Palestinians from displacement, preserving their lands, renewing democratic political institutions, and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also emphasized commitment to international laws and the right to self-determination to establish security and peace with Israel and to create a pathway for cooperation, prosperity, and regional security.
At the end of his speech, Abbas thanked the 160 countries that have recognized the State of Palestine and called for Palestine's membership in the United Nations.
Abbas also rejected the United States' approach as "illegal and punitive" and pointed to the denial of visas for the Palestinian delegation, which he deemed a failure of Washington to fulfill its responsibilities as the host country of the United Nations.
He criticized the "genocidal war of Israel" in Gaza and the "ethnic cleansing" carried out by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, describing the situation in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem as part of a "malicious colonial scheme" and warned of a new "Nakba" threat.
