NEW YORK – President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority addressed the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, delivering a controversial speech in which he asserted that his people were no longer bound by the Oslo accords. The Rabbinical Assembly released the following statement:
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ address at the United Nations yesterday was nothing short of inflammatory and could indeed be destructive to the peace process he claims to favor. As he spoke to our world’s leaders, he continued to propagate lies about Israel, the conflict and the peace process. His blatant declaration that the Palestinian people are no longer bound by agreements aimed at achieving peace in the region demonstrates his lack of genuine motivation to achieve peace.
Abbas cannot have it both ways – he cannot call on the UN and the international community to aid in the peace process and to bring about a Palestinian state, while also stepping away from agreements that have set the stage for such negotiations for decades. We will only see peace in the region, and the future creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state, should President Abbas engage in substantial negotiations with the Jewish State of Israel, recognizing its considerable security needs, inherent Jewish identity and its historical and religious connection to the holy sites in Jerusalem. The international community must make clear that President Abbas’ rhetoric and distortions will not be tolerated and will not lead to lasting peace. Only when Israeli and Palestinian leaders can come to the table in good faith will Palestinian statehood be a possibility.