- Title: Abbas says looking for Trump backing for two-state solution
- Date: 11th November 2016
- Summary: GUARD OF HONOUR VARIOUS OF ABBAS AND MEDVEDEV BEFORE PRIVATE MEETING, SHAKING HANDS, SITTING DOWN MEDVEDEV AND ABBAS WALKING UP TO PODIUM FOR A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT, MAHMOUD ABBAS, SAYING: "The election of President Donald Trump is an (internal) American issue. We have been watching the election process for the past year and until now, what we care about is what Mr. Trump says after he arrives in the White House." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT, MAHMOUD ABBAS, SAYING: "What we are looking for is that America will adopt the two-state solution: the state of Israel and the state of Palestine living next to each other in security and stability." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER, DMITRY MEDVEDEV, SAYING: "This offer has not been taken back, it is, as we say, still on the table and can be used at any moment. As a whole, we stand by the idea that a two state-solution is the only way to achieve real peace in this ancient land. As mediators we will continue our efforts and we hope for the help of other participants in this process, including the new administration of the United States of America." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE MEDVEDEV AND ABBAS SHAKING HANDS, WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 26th November 2016 14:41
- Keywords: Russia Medvedev Jericho Abbas Yad Vashem Trump U.S. election
- Location: JERUSALEM/ JERICHO, WEST BANK
- City: JERUSALEM/ JERICHO, WEST BANK
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0035802Y4J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump should continue his predecessor's push for the two state solution to the Middle East peace process, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday (November 11).
"What we care about is what Mr. Trump says after he arrives in the White House," Abbas said, at a joint news conference with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in the West Bank city of Jericho.
"What we are looking for is that America adopt the two- state solution: the state of Israel and the state of Palestine living next to each other in security and stability," he added.
Medvedev, who held a private meeting with Abbas before the news conference, told reporters a Russian initiative to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians was still on the table.
"We stand by the idea that a two state-solution is the only way to achieve real peace in this ancient land. As mediators we will continue our efforts and we hope for the help of other participants in this process, including the new administration of the United States of America," he added.
In September, Russia proposed hosting a meeting between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but it has yet to come to fruition.
Outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama, a firm supporter of the two-state solution, pushed for an Israel-Palestinian peace deal without seeing a breakthrough.
Earlier on Friday, Medvedev visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, where he lit an eternal flame and laid a wreath to commemorate six million Jews killed by the Nazis in WWII.
Medvedev arrived in the region on Wednesday (November 9) and met Israeli leaders on Thursday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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