Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Tuesday that Israel must chose between peace and settlements.
Speaking to reporters after meeting in Ramallah with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Abbas said he was committed to resuming peace talks with Israel “on the basis of the Arab peace initiatives and UN resolutions.”
Addressing Israelis, Abbas said: “Our hands remain extended for peace. They must choose between peace and settlement expansion at our expense. You can’t achieve peace through collective punishment by withholding our money, and not through racist measures on the ground and the continued incarceration of thousands of prisoners.”
Abbas expressed solidarity with Japan in wake of the threat by the Islamic State terror group to execute two Japanese hostages. “We strongly condemn the abduction of the two Japanese citizens,” he said. “These cruel actions are in violation of all moral and humane values.”
Abbas also thanked Japan for its support for Palestinian refugees over the past few decades and the 2012 Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.
Abbas said he briefed the Japanese prime minister on the latest developments surrounding the peace process and his efforts to seek a UN Security resolution that establishes a timeline for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines.
The Japanese prime minister announced during the joint press conference that his country would provide $100m. to help reconstruct the Gaza Strip and create job opportunities for Palestinians. He said that Japan was planning to send experts in March to help the Palestinians establish small businesses.
He also reiterated Japan’s support for the two-state solution and expressed hope that peace would prevail in the region so that people could enjoy prosperity and development.