Stand against the Deal of Century : Palestine Prime Minister Shtayyeh

RAMALLAH, Monday, January 27, 2020:  The world should stand against the American so-called deal of the century because it violates international law, today said Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh. Speaking at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting held in Ramallah, Shtayyeh said the Palestinians have rejected the deal of the century because it is a plot to liquidate the Palestinian cause.

He pointed out that the deal of the century, which is not based on international legality and law, gives Israel everything it wants at the expense of the national rights of the Palestinian people represented in their independent, sovereign and continuous state with Jerusalem as its capital and the right of return for the refugees.

Shtayyeh stressed that this deal, presented by a party that has lost its credibility to act as an honest broker for a serious and true political process, is a tool to fulfill the wishes of the occupying state headed by Benjamin Netanyahu and does not constitute a basis for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He said that this plan is intended to protect Trump from impeachment and Netanyahu from prison on corruption charges. “Is not a plan for peace in the Middle East, but rather a plan for to safe-guard its sponsors,” said Shtayyeh.

“This plan does not give the occupied land back to its people, does not recognize the 1967 borders, does not recognize that Jerusalem is occupied land but rather gives it to Israel as its capital, wages a financial war against the United Nations for Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, closes the Palestine office in Washington, and works to dry up the financial resources of the (Palestinian) National Authority,” he said. “It is nothing but a plan to liquidate the Palestinian cause and therefore we reject it and call on the international community not to be a partner in it because it contradicts with the basics of international law and the rights of the Palestinian people.”

The prime minister said President Mahmoud Abbas will call a meeting for the Palestinian leadership to discuss how and in what form to respond to this plot, noting that the Palestinian people are also going to give their opinion in it.

About the author:

Dr. Wael AL-batterkhi is the Minister counsellor (DCM) at the Embassy of the State Of Palestine in New Delhi, India. He may be reached at dr.waelalbattrekhi4@gmail.com