The Palestinian Presidency applauded the US Congress, on Friday, for supporting the two-state solution and rejecting the annexation of occupied Palestinian land, the Palestinian News and Info Agency reported.

President Abbas praised congress for their solidarity against Israel’s settlement policy, the fait accompli, and for recognizing the aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish their own state.

The Presidency considered the Congress resolution, passed by a majority of 226 votes in favor to 188 against as “a response to the current wrong policy of the American administration,” the most recent of which was a statement by the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in which he said that settlements are not inconsistent with international law.

Abbas said in a statement that “this resolution is a clear message to the US administration and Israel that peace will be achieved only through the establishment of the independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the fulfillment of the aspirations of the Palestinian people.”

It reiterated that “true peace will not be achieved without a return to international law, international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.” It demanded the US administration to annul previous wrong policies starting with the one on Jerusalem and ending with support for settlements and rejecting the two-state solution.

The resolution, proposed by Democratic member of Congress, Alan Lowenthal and endorsed by members of both Democratic and Republican parties, is in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions, the latest of which was resolution 2334 of 2016, the President stated.

Representative Lowenthal tweeted after the passage of the resolution stating, “Proud to see the House pass my bipartisan resolution to affirm our support for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. We took a stand for a just peace which safeguards human rights and security, and stands against unilateral annexation and settlement expansion.”

Photo: PNN
Edited for IMEMC: Ali Salam

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