Russian FM shakes hands with Erekat
Photo: EPA
Palestinians ask Putin to prevent Trump's relocating embassy
A Palestinian delegation arrives in Moscow to transmit a message from President Mahmoud Abbas to the Russian president, asking him to intervene with Trump to prevent the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem, which they again term 'crossing a red line.'
A Palestinian delegation to Moscow transmitted a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that asked him to work to prevent the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as American President-elect Donald Trump has announced is his intention.
The delegation was headed by Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization. They met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other senior officials to deliver their message from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Lavrov (L) and Erekat in Moscow on Friday (Photo: EPA)
Speaking at a joint press conference, Erekat said, "I came with an urgent message from Mahmoud Abbas. We request that President Putin use all the tools at his disposal to prevent Trump from relocating the embassy, because, for us, this is crossing a red line."
Lavrov said that his country was interested in aiding in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He announced to the press, "We will do our best to help launch direct and substantive talks between Israel and Palestine. As you know, we were ready to host the leaders of Israel and Palestine in Moscow last September. We are ready for it at the present moment, as soon as both sides are able to confirm their readiness."
Erekat responded, "The President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, accepted the offer of Russia’s president to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu in Moscow. And our agreement for this suggestion is still in force"
Earlier in the day, Jerusalem's Grand Mufti branded the potential embassy relocation an "assault" on Muslims across the globe.
