ADDIS ABABA,Ethiopia
The African Union (UN)
and the Arab League (AL) on Sunday voiced their rejection of the newly unveiled
U.S. peace plan that has sparked growing tensions between Palestine and Israel.
A Palestinian protester hurls stones at Israeli soldiers during clashes after a protest against the U.S. Middle East peace plan, in the West Bank city of Hebron, Feb. 2, 2020. |
African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat
said the U.S. plan was devised without consulting Palestinians and violates
existing AU and UN resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The case of Palestine is the most flagrant example of
the fragility of the international situation. The American-Israeli plan which
is called the 'deal of the century' has been prepared out of any consultations
and also in the absence of those who are mainly concerned," Mahamat said
at the opening of the 33rd AU summit held in the Ethiopian capital of Addis
Ababa.
It violates the UN resolution and those of the AU and is
trampling on the rights of the Palestinian people, he said, adding that the
peace plan is heightening the tensions in the region and beyond.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Jan. 28 unveiled his
controversial Middle East peace plan for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,
which would limit the sovereignty of a future Palestinian state.
He outlined the 80-page plan at the White House along with
visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which recognizes Jerusalem
as Israel's "undivided capital," while claiming that the Palestine
capital will include areas of East Jerusalem.
The plan, described by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
as the "slap of the century," allows Israel to claim sovereignty over
certain areas of the occupied West Bank, including Israeli settlements and the
Jordan Valley.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the AL secretary general, said "the
Arab League highly and constantly appreciates the principled position of the AU
in support of the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the
Palestinian people to end the Israeli occupation of their territory and their
independent state"
"I am confident that Africa will maintain its
established commitment in standing with the struggle of the Palestinian people
in their rejection of this unjust deal, as was articulated by the Palestinian
leadership, the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation and
the European Union," said Aboul Gheit.
In response to the U.S. plan, the Palestinian National
Authority earlier this month informed Israel and the United States it will
"cut all relations" with them.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye who is
attending the AU summit here also called on the international community to
reject the peace plan.
Josep Borrell, the high representative of the European
Union (EU) for foreign affairs and security policy, said last week that the
U.S. Middle East peace plan has departed from "internationally agreed
parameters."
To build a just and lasting peace, the unresolved final
status issues, including issues related to borders, the status of Jerusalem,
security and the refugee question, must be decided through direct negotiations
between both parties, Borrell said in a statement.
"In line with international law and relevant UN
Security Council resolutions, the EU does not recognise Israel's sovereignty
over the territories occupied since 1967. Steps towards annexation, if
implemented, could not pass unchallenged," Borrell said.
Meanwhile, Palestine is seeking a position from the UN
Security Council in the wake of Trump's announcement. The U.S. peace plan
intends to make illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land a done deal and
wants to make Palestinians live under apartheid, Ishtaye said.
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