Jerusalem is eternal Palestinian capital, Palestine President dismisses US peace role

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday that Jerusalem was the “eternal capital of the State of Palestine” in response to US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he was recognising the city as Israel’s capital.

In a pre-recorded speech played on Palestine TV, Abbas rejected Trump’s announcement which included a decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, a move he said was “tantamount to the United States abdicating its role as a peace mediator.”