US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, criticized Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday as he told the Security Council that the Palestinian leader did not have the courage to reach a peace deal.
The statement came after President Donald Trump accused Palestinians of “disrespecting” the United States since the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
“We will not run after Palestinian government that does not have what it takes to achieve peace,” said the US representative to the UN. “To achieve historical results, we need brave leaders,” Nikki Haley said.
Abbas “rejected any role of the United States … He insulted the American president,” hammered the ambassador. While assuring that his country was still “deeply committed” to achieving peace.
Relations between the United States and Palestinian leaders suddenly became strained after the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Palestinian representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour, told the Council on Thursday that the quest for peace had been, for Abbas, “the work of a lifetime”.
The rejection of the US decision on Jerusalem was not meant to be “disrespectful” but rather “a position rooted in full respect for the law, principles of justice and fairness,” he said. .
It was the first meeting of the Security Council on tensions in the region after the UN General Assembly passed a resolution against Donald Trump’s decision and the American threat to freeze part of the assistance to UNRWA, the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees.
