RAMALLAH, Tuesday, November 09, 2021 – President Mahmoud Abbas said today that the situation in the region is deteriorating “day after day,” stressing that immediate and serious political efforts are required before conditions worsen further.

The President delivered his remarks during the inauguration of the new Central Elections Commission (CEC) headquarters in Ramallah, in a ceremony attended by CEC Chairman Hanna Nasir, EU Representative Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff, the EU Heads of Mission, members of the Palestinian leadership, and representatives of Palestinian factions. The European Union contributed €6 million toward the new building.

President Abbas thanked the EU for its support for the CEC and for its continued political backing for the two-state solution. He said: “We do not forget the positions of the European Union in other fields, as they stand by the Palestinian people and the vision of two states. We expect from them more work and more pressure so that the political process moves forward toward a just and lasting peace, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

He added: “We and the European Union have no disagreements on this issue. All we want is for them to work with everyone — with Israel, with the United States, and others to push the peace process forward. Frankly, the situation is deteriorating day after day, and political matters are deteriorating as well. Quick rescue operations are required for a political solution.”

President Abbas reaffirmed that the Palestinian position remains clear: “We want a political solution the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, no more and no less. The Israeli government must realize that if it does not work for peace, it will not enjoy peace either. Peace starts here, and Israel must understand that stubbornness and total rejection of the peace process will not benefit it.”

Responding to recent remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett rejecting the two-state solution, President Abbas said: “He cannot continue to reject the two-state solution forever. If they reject two states, what do they want? One state, as I said in my speech at the United Nations? Do they accept returning to the Partition Plan, which is our right under international legitimacy?”

He continued: “We accept very little from international legitimacy. Let us take any UN resolution and implement it immediately at the negotiating table. But for this government to continue on the same path as its predecessors is unacceptable.”

The President stressed that Palestinians deserve “dignity and a decent life,” and emphasized the need for free and fair elections. He reiterated that no Palestinian elections will be held without Jerusalem: “When we say elections, we mean elections in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza. If Israel does not accept elections in Jerusalem, then there will be no elections. We will not chase after Trump and Trump’s projects. East Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine, and we demand the US administration fulfill its commitments to reopen the consulate in East Jerusalem.”

President Abbas said the CEC “has always been ready” to hold elections across all Palestinian territories, but stressed that Israel must allow voting in Jerusalem. He called on the EU to continue its efforts to secure Israel’s approval: “You promised to convince Israel, but Israel was not persuaded. We hope you will continue your efforts.”

On reconciliation, the President reaffirmed: “We are fully ready for reconciliation, but we have one condition that all parties commit to and implement international legitimacy. If this happens, reconciliation will take place immediately.”

He strongly rejected Israel’s recent designation of Palestinian civil society organizations as “terrorist,” saying: “Organizations that work on children, women, and human rights have become terrorists. Perhaps one day they will say the Elections Commission or the Council of Ministers are terrorists. This is nonsense and unacceptable.”

President Abbas said the Israeli government has no authority over Palestinian institutions: “Who gave them the right to decide who is a terrorist and who is not? They should ask themselves who has practiced terrorism since 1947 until today.”

He criticized ongoing Israeli attempts to claim property in Sheikh Jarrah based on decades-old documents, saying: “If they want to open these files, we will open them. I had property all over Palestine 70 years ago. The Partition Resolution granted us 45% of Palestine where is it? They took it. I want my right, my land, my people’s property, and compensation for what happened to us — for the massacres in Deir Yassin, Qibya, Ain al-Zaytoun, and others.”

The President warned that the situation has become intolerable: “The world must be aware that the situation is no longer bearable. Israel itself says that settlements are illegal and that expelling our people from Sheikh Jarrah is illegal. Unilateral actions are illegal. Israel and the world must act before time runs out. After that, no one will be blamed for what they do including us.”

He concluded by affirming the Palestinian people’s right to independence and democracy: “We want our rights. We want to build our country. We want democracy to prevail here like in the rest of the world. Is it conceivable that we are the only people on this planet still under occupation? Why are we the only people who do not enjoy the right to independence? Why?”