The 81-year-old leader once again criticized the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for attempting to enforce Israeli rule on occupied territories.
"The settlements are illegal, and in recent days, we were given an unprecedented decision regarding this issue," Abbas said, as reported by Channel 10 news. He regards the move as an ‘unprecedented' diplomatic victory, he added.
The leader also expressed hope that he and incoming US president Donald Trump will be able to build a positive relationship and work together on reaching a two-state solution to the Palestine issue, despite Trump's claims that he doesn't necessarily see West Bank settlements as illegal and his calls to veto the resolution.
"We want to emphasize our willingness to work with the newly-elected American administration… to achieve peace… based on a two-state solution," Abbas told the crowd.
After the Six Day War in 1967, Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula. The United States and many other nations has been calling on Israel ever since to accept the borders that existed before the conflict.
Netanyahu, who opposes a return to the 1967 lines, argues that all disputes must be settled through direct negotiations without any preconditions, and that pressure by the international community jeopardizes the negotiating process.
