Palestinian president affirms commitment to holding elections within year after end of Israel's war in Gaza

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday reaffirmed his commitment to organizing presidential and parliamentary elections within one year after the end of Israel’s war on Gaza.

Speaking via video to an international conference on Palestine in New York, held on the eve of this week’s UN General Assembly, Abbas said the Palestinian people seek “a state based on pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power.”

The Palestinian president also urged countries that have not yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so.

Abbas was among 80 Palestinian officials whose visas were revoked by the US State Department and so are unable to attend this week’s UN events in New York in person.

In a much-awaited move, earlier Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron told the same conference: "I declare that today France recognizes the state of Palestine."

Abbas added that “Palestine is the only party qualified to assume full responsibility for governance and security in Gaza through a temporary administrative committee linked to the Palestinian government, with Arab and international participation.”

He demanded “an end to settlement activity, annexation, settler terrorism, and assaults on Islamic and Christian holy sites.”

The president condemned “the occupation’s policies that isolate Jerusalem, expand construction in defiance of international law, and pose a direct threat to Arab national security and international peace, in addition to the blatant aggression against the sovereignty of sisterly Qatar and other Arab states, which requires a firm international stance.”

- Reform agenda

Abbas noted that Palestine is moving forward with a comprehensive reform agenda to strengthen governance, transparency, the rule of law, reform the financial system and update educational curricula in line with UNESCO standards within two years.

He reaffirmed drafting a temporary constitution within three months “to ensure the transition from authority to statehood, and to exclude any parties or individuals who do not adhere to the political program, international commitments of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization), and international legitimacy, under international monitoring.”

“We want a modern democratic state based on the rule of law, pluralism, the peaceful transfer of power, equality, justice, and the empowerment of women and youth.”

Abbas praised Saudi Arabia, France and the UK “in mobilizing more international recognition.”

He also urged support for Palestine’s bid for full UN membership, noting that Palestine had already recognized Israel’s right to exist in 1988 and 1993 and continues to do so.

The Palestinian president expressed gratitude “to all countries participating in the conference for their important role in issuing the New York Declaration and moving irreversibly toward peace based on the two-state solution and international legitimacy.”

Abbas voiced a readiness to work with US President Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia, France, the UN and all partners “to implement the peace plan approved at this conference within a set timeline and under international oversight and guarantees, paving the way for a just peace and comprehensive regional cooperation.”

He urged Israel to “sit immediately at the negotiating table to stop the bloodshed and achieve just and comprehensive peace in the region.”

The Palestinian president also praised the mediation role of Egypt, Qatar and the US in seeking to end the war in Gaza, and lauded the stances of Egypt and Jordan in rejecting forced displacement “which the international community rejects alongside us.”