Mahmoud Abbas condemned once again the decision by the US President Donald trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, while vowing to continue all possible political and diplomatic efforts to create an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders, Times of Israel reports.
"We will not accept the status quo. We will not accept the apartheid system. We will not accept occupation without cost, and you [Israel] must rethink your aggressive policies and actions against our people, our land and our holy places before it is too late," Mahmoud Abbas said.
READ MORE: Netanyahu Blames Palestinian President Abbas for Disrupting Peace Process
On December 6, US President Donald Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and instructed the US State Department to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Guatemala followed the US' example on Sunday. Both decisions caused mass criticism across the world.
Relations between Israelis and Palestinians have ranged between uneasy and hostile for decades. Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government refuses to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity, and builds settlements on the occupied areas despite objections from the United Nations.
