Following the resumption of terrorist acts, former prime minister meets with PA chairman on the sidelines of the New York Security Council meeting • Abu Mazen: "Ready to resume negotiations from the point where he was terminated with friends of Olmert" • Olmert: Peace"
Abu Mazen and Ehud Olmert, on other days
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas addressed Tuesday's "Centennial Deal" by President Trump, presented to the parties last month. The two are expected to oppose the outline of the basic plan, declaring that true peace will only come by way of freight And giving the Israelis to the Palestinians.
"I congratulate my colleague Ehud Olmert, with whom I have worked closely to reach peace and I respect him greatly," Abbas opened his statement in a joint statement. "This morning, I made a speech at the Security Council detailing our commitment to peace on the basis of international law, in order to reach a two-state solution based on 67 borders.
"The century deal presented was completely against international law, destroying the two-state solution as well as any basis for any future negotiations," Abu Mazen continued, "so it was rejected not only by us but also by the international community."
"I had a deep discussion with Olmert. We are in constant contact, we have worked so closely to reach a peace agreement. I am not saying that we have reached such an agreement, but we have come a long way and talked about all the core issues," said Abu Mazen. Negotiations from where we left off, based on the Quartet proposal and not on the annexation that leads to violence and chaos.
"The negotiations with Olmert were promising and we were close to reaching a solution. We are ready to return to the negotiations from which we will achieve a just and comprehensive peace. We want a Palestinian state whose capital is East Jerusalem, with an Israeli state that is West Jerusalem.
"Peace and security cannot be coerced and determined on the ground - it can only be achieved through genuine dialogue between the two parties, taking into account the needs of both parties, so that each can live in his own country.
"We need to be responsible for giving chance and peace to future generations and all the people in the region - not forcing one party, but reaching agreement between the two parties to give future generations a chance for peace," Abu Mazen said.
"I reach out to the Israelis, and you, Mr. Olmert, to return to the negotiations. That's what we have to do, this is what we have to achieve on the basis of international law under the auspices of the Quartet to reach our goal: two countries that live side by side, live in peace. "
Ehud Olmert said: "Abu Mazen is our only partner, Abu Mazen is a man of peace. - I take every opportunity to do so in Israel, but I won't do it here in the United States. I came for the hope of peace. "