- Title: Abbas praises "historical" U.N. resolution on settlements
- Date: 31st December 2016
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT, MAHMOUD ABBAS, SAYING: "A few days ago, we achieved a historical resolution at the (United Nations) Security Council on the settlements with an international consensus. This resolution stressed on the international references and called on Israel to stop all its settlement activities by considering it a violation of international law."
- Embargoed: 15th January 2017 20:44
- Keywords: Abbas Palestinian West Bank United Nations resolution settlements Israel
- Location: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
- City: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0025F7QW5J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday (December 31) that the Palestinians had achieved a "historical" resolution on settlements at the United Nations Security Council.
"A few days ago, we achieved a historical resolution at the (United Nations) Security Council on the settlements with an international consensus. This resolution stressed on the international references and called on Israel to stop all its settlement activities by considering it a violation of international law," Abbas said during an event in the West Bank city of Ramallah for the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of the Fatah political party.
He added that they were ready to meet an invitation by the Russian President for a trilateral meeting in Moscow and to work with the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to achieve peace in the region.
Abbas also said that they were looking forward to the results of the Paris international conference next month.
"We are looking forward to the international conference which will be taking place in Paris in mid-January, and the importance of the results (which are) an international mechanism to follow up on it and a timetable for implementation," he said.
Palestinians gathered at the Presidential compound to celebrate the anniversary with flags and torches.
The United States on Friday (December 23) allowed the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements, defying pressure from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Israel and some U.S. lawmakers who urged Washington to wield its veto.
An abstention by the United States paved the way for the 15-member council to approve the resolution, with 14 votes in favour, to a round of applause.
The resolution demanded that Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and said the establishment of settlements by Israel has "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."
The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, areas Israel captured in a 1967 war. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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