PARIS 鈥� Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday urged France and Europe to play a stronger role in peace efforts, insisting he鈥檒l no longer accept any U.S. plans for Mideast peace because of the Trump administration鈥檚 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel鈥檚 capital.
Abbas met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris a day after the UN General Assembly resolution denouncing President Donald Trump鈥檚 decision.
During a news conference, Macron was careful not to take sides, saying 鈥渢he American mistake was to want to unilaterally manage from afar a situation whose solution is in the hands of the Israelis and Palestinians.鈥�
Abbas said the United States is 鈥渘o longer an honest mediator in the peace process.鈥�
鈥淲e will not accept any plan from the United States of America because of its bias and violation of the international law,鈥� he said.
Abbas also denounced the U.S threat to cut financial aid for countries who voted to back the U.N. resolution. 鈥淲e call upon countries that did not recognize Palestine yet to do so to preserve the two-state solution before it鈥檚 too late,鈥� he added.
Macron reaffirmed his disapproval of Trump鈥檚 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel鈥檚 capital. The French president recalled he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month in Paris and urged him to make 鈥渃ourageous gestures鈥� to help revive peace talks, including freezing Israel鈥檚 construction of settlements on occupied lands.
EU leaders, including Macron, have reiterated support for establishing an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
On Thursday, the UN General Assembly voted 128-9 with 35 abstentions in favor of the non-binding resolution countering the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem.
