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Itongadol.- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday accused Israel of carrying out a “destructive” plan against Jerusalem and urged the Arab and Islamic countries to work toward preventing it from implementing its scheme.
Abbas’s accusation came during a speech he delivered at the Arab summit in Doha, Qatar.
“The Israeli occupation is systematically and continuously working toward Judaizing east Jerusalem,” Abbas told the Arab heads of state.
He said that Israel was also seeking to change the character of the city and expel it Palestinian residents and assault Islamic and Christian holy sites.
Abbas urged the Arabs and Muslims to go to the United Nations and other international organizations to stop Israel from pursuing its “destructive scheme.”
Abbas also sought the help of the Arab and Islamic countries in putting pressure on Israel to release Palestinian prisoners, whom he described as “brave.”
He claimed that the prisoners were being subjected to “grave violations.”
Abbas hailed Qatar’s announcement that it would establish a special fund for Jerusalem with a $1 billion budget to support the Arab residents of the city and foil Israel’s attempts to “Judaize” east Jerusalem.
Abbas told the summit that during his recent meeting with US President Barack Obama in Ramallah, the two discussed all the final-status issues.
Abbas quoted Obama as stressing that the US was resolved to achieve the two-state solution through negotiations.
“We reiterated to Obama our commitment to the two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders and the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002,” Abbas said. “We also emphasized that halting settlement construction and releasing Palestinian prisoners were not Palestinian pre-conditions, but Israeli obligations in accordance with signed agreements and the Road Map.”