Mass rallies condemn U.S. veto against Egypt draft resolution

CAIRO – 20 December 2017: The Palestinian National and Islamic Forces organized a mass rally on Wednesday to condemn the U.S. usage of veto against the Egyptian draft resolution over U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

Ziad Jarghoun, a member of the Political Bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, presented a speech on behalf of the national and Islamic forces in which he greeted the 176 member states who voted in favor of the Egyptian draft resolution reaffirming the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

Jarghoun called on all countries to support the Palestinian uprising against Trump’s Jerusalem decision and their political rights. He also urged them to work on cancelling the Oslo Accords and submit the request for active membership of the State of Palestine in the General Assembly of the United Nations under the Uniting for Peace Act.

He renewed his call to organize the international conference under the auspices of the Security Council according to the resolutions of international legitimacy as a substitute for the fruitless negotiations that lasted more than 25 years, causing more land to be confiscated and the increasing Judaization of Jerusalem.

He called to begin the formation of a national unity government to carry out its tasks and support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza to face the dangers of the Palestinian cause.

Earlier, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the American veto over Egypt's draft resolution over Jerusalem on Monday during the emergency meeting of the United Nations.

He added in a statement following the voting that the United State's decision is considered disrespectful to the international community.

Egypt's Ambassador to the United Nations Amr Abul Ata affirmed in his speech that any decisions that aim to change the identity of Jerusalem should be considered void and must be reversed.

He added that Egypt used to be the forefront defenders of the Palestinian cause and will continue to do so until reaching a diplomatic solution.

Fourteen countries voted affirmative for Egypt's draft resolution including Britain and France who said that they "regret the United States’ choice."