While nodding at Lapid’s backing of 2 states, Abbas says Israel ‘destroying’ chances

NEW YORK — In his UN speech Friday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas noted the “positive development” of Prime Minister Yair Lapid voicing support for a two-state solution during his address the previous day. But he spent the bulk of his own remarks repeating grievances against Israel’s government and security forces for their treatment of the Palestinians as well as the international community for failing to “protect” his people.

“When we hear something positive, we acknowledge it,” Abbas said, referring to remarks by both Lapid and US President Joe Biden in favor of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “I heard them supporting the two-state solution and we’re thankful for that.”

“But the real test to the seriousness and credibility to this stance… is for the Israeli government to go back to the negotiation table immediately,” the PA president said, adding that Israel must cease all unilateral actions such as settlement building, demolition of homes, evictions and “killings.”

Israel “is, through its premeditated and deliberate policies, destroying the two-state solution,” he told the General Assembly.

“This proves unequivocally that Israel does not believe in peace,” he added. “Therefore, we no longer have an Israeli partner to whom we can talk.” READ MORE