Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called President Donald Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem a "dangerous" development in a speech Tuesday before the United Nations, then walked out before U.S. envoy Nikki Haley retorted that "we will not chase after you."
The encounter Tuesday before the Security Council reflected the tensions in U.S.-Palestinian relations since Trump's declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and his administration's cuts in U.N. refugee funds for the Palestinians. Haley was accompanied at the U.N. by Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and chief adviser on Israel-Palestinian peace efforts, and by Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt.
Abbas, who renewed his call for an international conference this year to seek a Mideast accord, has vowed not to meet with U.S. officials until the Jerusalem embassy decision is reversed.
"To solve the Palestine question, it is essential to establish a multilateral international mechanism emanating from an international conference," Abbas said, adding that he hoped "to find a way out of the stalemate and crisis we are in."
[PRESIDENT TRUMP: Timeline, appointments, executive orders + guide to actions in first year]
However, he finished his address with a warning of violence unless the U.S. restores funds that were cut to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which administers aid to millions of Palestinian refugees.
"If you end your assistance they become terrorists or refugees in Europe," Abbas said. "It's either that or you continue to support [the U.N. relief agency] until the crisis ends. We are ready to begin negotiations. We beg you to help us so that we may not commit an act that goes against our beliefs and your beliefs."
The Palestinian leader immediately left the Security Council after concluding his speech, without waiting to hear Haley's response.
His departure was denounced by Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon, who said, "Every time there's an inch of progress, Mr. Abbas runs away." In comments issued by his office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "Abbas offered nothing new" while "he continues to pay terrorists and their families $347 million."
Haley, who also noted Abbas' absence but addressed her remarks to him anyway, said the Palestinians don't have to like Trump's decision on Jerusalem but "that decision will not change."
She said the U.S. offers an "outstretched hand" to the Palestinian people, but "we will not chase after you" and "the choice is yours."
In a statement, Josh Raffel, a White House spokesman, dismissed Abbas' plans for an international conference and full U.N. membership for a Palestinian state as "old talking points and undeveloped concepts" and instead pledged to "continue working on our plan, which is designed to benefit both the Israeli and Palestinian people. We will present it when it is done and the time is right."
A Section on 02/21/2018