RAMALLAH _ Palestine News Network
President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday that the United States of America is a "biased and unqualified mediator" to nurture the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel.
At a joint press conference with Bosnia and Herzegovina President Bakker Alija Izetbegovic after their meeting in Ramallah, Abbas complained of the "destructive impact of US decisions on Jerusalem and refugees on the peaceful march."
"Making the United States a biased mediator, not qualified to sponsor the negotiations," he said, adding, "We therefore recall the need to heed the calls of the international community for the United States to retreat from its resolutions."
Abbas reiterated his call for the convening of an international peace conference and the formation of a multilateral international mechanism to nurture the peace process, "Towards the implementation of the two-state solution on the 1967 borders, and the realization by the Palestinian people of their freedom and independence in their state with East Jerusalem as its capital."
Abbas said he had briefed Bebevic on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, "in the light of the continued aggressive Israeli occupation and settlement activities, which constitute an impediment to the achievement of peace and contravene international laws."
For his part, Bebivic supported the call for an international peace conference that would reach a just and lasting solution based on international references and resolutions of international legitimacy to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
He stressed that the negotiations were the only way to achieve peace for both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, and that Jerusalem must be the capital of the States of Palestine and Israel and not of a single state.
He criticized the Israeli settlement, and considered that its continuation was an obstacle to the achievement of peace.
