Abbas Wants Peace, Says He Is Against The Attacks

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“We do not want any blood to be shed, one drop of blood, on the part of the Israelis or the Palestinians,” he said, addressing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who was among the leaders to share the dais with him. “We want them to live as neighbors and partners forever. Let us sign an agreement, a final agreement, for peace and put an end to a very long period of struggle forever.”

“I will not let the terrorists block our path to peace,” he said, though he added, “These events underscore once again that peace must be anchored in security.”

Netanyahu also directly addressed Abbas, turning to him from the podium and saying, “President Abbas, you are my partner in peace.”

“I came here today to find a historic compromise,” he declared. “I didn’t come here to find excuses or to make them. I came to find solutions.”

“We call on the Israelis to carry out their obligations, including a freeze on settlements activities – which is not setting a precondition but a call to implement an agreed obligation – and to end all the closure and blockade, preventing freedom of movement, including the [Gaza] siege,” he said.

“We want a peace that will correct the historical injustice caused by the nakba of 1948, and one that brings security to our people and the Israeli people,” he continued, using the Arabic word for “catastrophe” associated with the founding of the State of Israel.

“Settlement activities in the Palestinian territory are contrary to international law. They will not create rights for Israel, nor are they going to achieve peace or security for Israel,” he said in Arabic. “It is, therefore, a priority to completely freeze all these activities until the entire negotiation process comes to a successful end.”

Mubarak urged Israel to “seize the current opportunity” and “not let it slip through your fingers.”

Abdullah, who spoke after Mubarak, also stressed the possibilities and urgency of the current situation.

“The direct negotiations that will start tomorrow must show results -- and sooner rather than later. Time is not on our side,” he warned.

“There are those on both sides who want us to fail, who will do everything in their power to disrupt our efforts,” he noted. “This is why we must prevail. For our failure would be their success in sinking the region into more instability and wars that will cause further suffering in our region and beyond.”