Ramallah (Ma'an) - During the first session of the new Palestinian Legislative Council, President Abbas says that negotiations will continue with Israel.
The President also denounced violence during the Saturday session and said that only the nonviolent resistance will continue.
As he formally asked the winning Hamas party to form the new government, he said that he hoped they and the Israelis would follow the path of the Oslo Accords and abide international law.
The session was held via video conference between Gaza City and Ramallah as Israeli forces would not allow any PLC members to travel between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for the meeting.
The PLC session officially began with a reading from the Holy Quran and the Palestinian National Anthem.
President Abbas addressed the PLC after greeting all members by saying, ‘This is a great day in Palestinian life and could not have been achieved without independent, free, and fair elections.’ He added that hundreds of local and foreign observers watched the electoral process, while all factions joined together in preventing any security breaches.
‘Regardless of the problems for voters in Jerusalem, Palestinians proved that they are democratic and educated people.’
President Abbas continued by saying that the joy of the Palestinian people will not be complete until the Palestinian State is established with Jerusalem as its capital and UN Resolution 194, guaranteeing the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees is honored.
The President saluted Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails and assured that every effort will be made to secure their release.
He added that the elections have created a new reality in Palestinian life in which Hamas became the majority in the PLC and will be forming the new Palestinian government. He requested that the new PLC chose a suitable Speaker and Deputies, as the coming period is critical for all aspects of Palestine.
President Abbas spoke about the role of the Palestine Liberation Organization, both past and present, and reviewed PLO achievements since its inception, giving it great props.
He reaffirmed that the PLO has international recognition and is involved in Arab and Islamic country initiatives.
President Abbas also reviewed the role of the of the Palestinian National Council and its achievements, including the importance of dialogue between parties and factions in order to strengthen and activate the role of the PLO as the only true representative of the Palestinian people.
He also addressed the Algerian-born Declaration of Independence and the Palestinian State. He reiterated the PLO's commitment to UN Resolutions 242 and 338 which require the Israelis to withdraw to 1967 borders and renders all Israeli settlements illegal.
He gave mention to Palestinian dialogue with the United States, the Madrid Peace Process and the Oslo Accords, and the mutual recognition between the PLO and the Israelis.
As a result of the Oslo Accords, Israeli must withdraw from Palestinian lands occupied in 1967. The Accords also stipulate that the ‘Palestinian issue’ must be solved. He mentioned that the Israelis killed their leader Rabin, ringing in the possibility for the era of Benjamin Netanyahu who openly called to cancel the Oslo Accords.
The President also addressed the illegality of Israel continuing to build the Wall and expand settlements in the West Bank. He also mentioned Israel's unilateral steps and Sharon's disengagement plan, which the Palestinians expected to be an international initiative which included Palestinian participation which mutual commitments. What they got instead was something radically and horrifyingly different.
President Abbas also reviewed the conferences in Sharm Al Sheikh and Camp David, the Road Map, US President's ‘vision’ of two-states, and the announced ‘cease-fire,’ all in which the Israelis fell down on their commitments.
The President gave pause to address the Palestinian Authority and its role in Palestinian life, and the importance of Palestinian leaders returning from exile, as so many are scattered in the Diaspora.
He placed the burden of the devastated economy and rampant unemployment not on the Israelis for their closures, but rather on the Palestinian Authority. All efforts have been made in regards to bringing about financial transparency in the PA in all aspects, including the budget, corruption, and lawlessness.
Abbas said that as President he confirmed the following: First we will remain committed to previous signed agreements and will use our choice of strategic negotiations.
‘Secondly, we will not stray from the path of negotiations in order to exchange it only with their iron first, the Wall, settlements, and assassinations.’
He continued, ‘If we take that path, the situation will deteriorate even further’
The President said that the Israelis will escalate their aggressions and stability will never be seen in the region.
‘I call upon the Quartet and the United States to return to the negotiating table, Bush's vision, the Arab Initiative, and the Road Map.’
The President continued addressing the PLC. ‘The third change occurred when Hamas won the elections and no one must allow the Israelis to use any excuse to escalate their aggressions against the Palestinians.’
‘And fourthly, the reformation of the PA must not stop.’ The President continued, ‘I will not stop, but instead will continued to back all initiatives intended to reform the situation in Palestine. I will do my utmost to protect the legal and judicial systems.’
Continuing with his list, President Abbas said, ‘Fifthly, we in Palestine will not cease our allegiance with Arab and Islamic nations.’
‘I would like to speak about the security situation in the Palestinian lands which are the most dangerous subject. Maintaining the security is securing the life of our people and will enable us to comply with our commitments. Therefore the responsibility lies on all of us to stop the case of lawlessness and confront it.’
He said, ‘I will not allow, and the government must not allow, the continuation of this phenomena. Every means possible must be exercised in order to ensure the security of our people.’
‘For this,’ the President said, ‘The Israelis must stop preventing our security forces from receiving necessary weapons for our police and security forces, and perhaps it will take pressure from the Quartet to facilitate this’
President Abbas continued, ‘We have multiple projects to accomplish, such as education and teaching which must be developed. More schools, colleges and universities must be built, the health sector, economic industry, trade, sports, and tourism must be fomented.’
‘The work to come is difficult, among all the issues such as prisoners, the injured, the environment, and building a more modern society. We must all cooperate and must not take any steps backward. We must preserve what women have achieved and preserve the social life of our society, and show that all people are equal under the law.’
The President said, ‘With regard to the issue of Jerusalem, I would like to assure you that all Israeli measures against the city are against international law. The Israelis may think that they are getting around this reality by imposing facts on the ground, but we will not rest until justice is brought to our city as this issue will always prevent any sort of peace.’
The President issued many thanks for the great deal of support that Palestinians have received despite the devastating conditions. ‘I am calling on the Arab, Muslim and international community to help Palestinians in the city of Jerusalem. And finally, I would like to thank our brothers in the Arab states and our friends throughout the world for their support.’
And President Abbas continued his first address to the new PLC by speaking to the Israelis.
‘To our Israeli neighbors I would like to tell them that the security can be achieved only through a just peace. Justice does not come through their military activities. I say to them frankly that by building the Wall and expanding settlements, and the latest attack on the Jordan Valley will lead only to hatred and the continuation of the deepening conflict.’