Abbas Tells Putin of Concerns Over U.S. 'Deal of Century'

Date: 14 July 2018 - 21:38

News ID: ۵۵۰۶۳

WEST BANK (Dispatches) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has held talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, just days after the Russian leader hosted Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I'm glad of the opportunity to tell you about the contact we have had with your neighbors, and leaders of various countries," Vladimir Putin told him as they met at the Kremlin on Saturday, in quotes carried by Russian agencies.
"I know that the situation in the region is difficult and we are grateful that you have used the World Cup as a reason to come to Moscow," Putin said, adding that he was glad of the opportunity to discuss the problems facing the Palestinians.
Abbas told Putin of his concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to move the country's embassy to al-Quds, as well as Zionist settlement activity and Trump's "deal of the century," which has still not been officially released.
"We are resisting attempts by the Americans to impose their decisions on the most sensitive problems of Palestine," Russian news agencies quoted Abbas as saying in translated remarks.
"As you know, our relations with the U.S. go through not the best period in their history now. You also know that we have stopped all our contacts with the Americans.
"First of all, this is connected to the fact that they are trying to carry out the so-called deal of the century and we think that the first step on the way to that plan was the shifting of the US embassy to Jerusalem (al-Quds)."
Last year, Trump recognized al-Quds as the regime’s "capital" in May, and said the U.S. was moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy occupied city. It relocated the diplomatic mission in May.
Palestinians want the city's eastern part as the capital of their future state.
Following Trump's announcement, an overwhelming number of countries voted in favor of a resolution at the UN General Assembly, which called on Washington to withdraw the recognition.
The United Nations General Assembly on December 21 overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the U.S. to withdraw its controversial recognition of al-Quds as the regime’ capital. The 193-nation assembly adopted the resolution by a decisive vote of 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) tells his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin he fears shifting of the U.S. embassy to al-Quds is first step of a bigger plan.