Doha: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised the efforts of the State of Qatar in supporting the Palestinian cause, stressing his keenness to consult with HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in many issues.
President Abbas underlined to his strong relation with Qatar's leadership, people and Government, noting in this regard to an expected visit he will conduct to Qatar.
Abbas said that Qatar is his second home because he had lived in for 15 years and he has distinctive relationship with Qatar.
In an interview with (Al-Watan) newspaper published Thursday, the Palestinian President talked about various developments related to the Palestinian cause.
Regarding his recent phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, Abbas told Al-Watan that it showed that Trump is serious in finding a settlement of the Palestinian issue.
Abbas added at the same time that the recent visit of the US Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt to the occupied Palestinian territories did not carry any proposals or ideas, given that his visit came to listen and know what are in the Palestinians minds to convey this to President Trump, and when they meet the US president there will be answers to what he heard, which is enough to form a clear image, after that he must suggest appropriate solutions.
Abbas also said that he explained to Greenblatt everything related to the Palestinian case and informed him abut what disrupts solutions such as settlement projects, the transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the outstanding issues between the Palestinian side and the Israelis.
President Abbas stressed the need to resolve the Palestinian issue, otherwise, the Middle East will remain on a hot tin, so if the Palestinian issue is resolved, then all the problems in the region will also be resolved.
He pointed out that he explained to the US administration that he is against terrorism in all its forms.
About the role of the White House to move the political process forward despite Trump's stances that support Israel, and followed by the announcement to transfer US embassy to Jerusalem, said Abbas that when Trump announced that, he was in his election campaign before taking over the presidency in America, and after winning the presidential election, the Palestinian side sent him several messages that the transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem would destroy the entire peace process, which is contrary to the public US attitude.
Furthermore, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the successive administrations tried to postpone the transfer of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, ??and if this happens, there will be no solution to the Palestinian issue.
About the existence of alternatives in case of the transfer of the US embassyto Jerusalem, Abbas said that his country has do not want to anticipate events, and it has a strategic alternative positions based on the event if it occurs, expecting that the embassy will not be transferred in the near future.
