site.btaPalestinian Ambassador:"China, Russia, UN May Become New Israel-Palestine Peace Mediators"

Sofia, December 21 (BTA) - Palestine's Ambassador in Sofia, Dr Ahmed Al Madbuh, welcomed the efforts of China, Russia and the UN in the negotiations between Palestine and Israel. Replying to a question, Dr Al Madbuh told a BTA-hosted news conference on Thursday that these two countries and above all the UN can be the new mediators in the peace process. The Ambassador expressed the Palestinian people's hope that an international conference under UN auspices will be convened to continue the peace process.

Dr Al Madbuh said that US President Donald Trump's decision to move his country's embassy to Jerusalem, which violates the city's status, is at variance with and contravenes all international instruments and resolutions related to this status.

According to the Palestinian Ambassador, by this act the US forfeited its capacity and role as peace process mediator. "That is why we don't think that after Trump's decision it would make any sense at all for us to establish and maintain contacts with the present US administration," Dr Al Madbuh added.

He recalled that in 1993 Palestine was assured by the US that it will not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and will not move its embassy there. In exchange, Palestine promised to recognize the State of Israel and to start peace negotiations under US auspices. "Now that the US has reneged on the commitments assumed, Palestine feels no longer bound by the commitments it assumed to the US at that time. That is the reason why Palestine already signs the international conventions," the Ambassador pointed out.

Dr Al Madbuh also said that Palestine will approach the International Court about the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and its bid to recognize the city as a capital of the occupying force.