Palestinian president delivers powerful speech at AU Summit

CAIRO - 10 February 2019: President of the State of Palestine and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Mahmoud Abbas delivered a powerful speech at the opening session of the 32nd African Union Summit.

Abbas expressed appreciation for Rwandan President and Outgoing African Union Chair Paul Kagame, and wished President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi success in his chairmanship of the AU.

Abbas thanked Ethiopia for its role in the UN Security Council, and congratulated South Africa for chairing the AU in 2020 saying he was sure it would support the Palestinian Cause.

The Palestinian president praised African countries for achieving economic growth, women empowerment, and counterterrorism.

“We look forward to your support to condemn the Israeli occupation, assault over Christian and Muslim holy sites, and savage practices,” Abbas said adding that he aspired for African support for the Palestinian State to receive the membership of the UN.

The Palestinian president asserted that he needed African countries to support the two-state solution so that Palestine becomes a sovereign state having as capital Eastern Jerusalem.

“The US administration supports the violations of Israel. Its bias disqualifies it from mediating and sponsoring the peace talks after it had designated Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, moved its embassy, cut the funds to the UNRWA, and supported Israeli practices,” Abbas said stressing that, “The strength of Africa is a strength to all its friends.”