Palestinian leader: US dishonest in Israeli-Palestinian peace process

Abbas also said he would not accept “any peace plan presented by the US following President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on 6 December.

“The United States has tried to be a dishonest mediator in the peace process”, Abbas said during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday.

Tensions between the US and the world community came to the helm at the UN General Assembly Thursday evening.

A non-binding draft resolution to declare recognition of Jerusalem by Trump as Israeli capital “invalid” was approved by the General Assembly, with 128 states voting in favour and nine against, with 35 abstentions.

The Trump administration appears to threaten the states that voted for the resolution with a decrease in American aid to the UN and member states, reports “Al Jazeera”, Periscopi broadcasts.

Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the UN, said that as the international body's largest donor, the US had “a legitimate hope” that its goodwill would be “recognised and respected”.

The threat faced Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's condemnation, which said Trump “cannot buy Turkey's democratic will”.

Abbass echoed Erdogan's opinion, saying he hoped the US would “learn and understand that you cannot impose solutions using money and trying to buy seats”.

The Palestinian authority hopes the European Union will take a leading role in the peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis, Abbas continued.

“We trust you. We respect the efforts made by you and we pay attention to your” efforts, Abbas said at the meeting with French President Macro.

Macron reaffirmed the French stance that the solution of the two states is the answer to ending Palestine's 70-year Israeli work.

Macron continued to criticise Trump's action: “The Americans have marginalized themselves and I'm trying not to do the same... I don't approve of Trump's decision regarding Jerusalem”.

Although he took a critical tone, Macron, 40, earlier said he would not immediately seek a French peace initiative.

Macro has held more and more meetings with Middle Eastern leaders in recent weeks.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, was in Paris for talks less than two weeks ago.

“I am very clearly committed to doing everything for further peace”, Macro said. /Periscopi/