Palestinians won’t accept any role for U.S. in peace process, President Abbas says

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinians won’t accept any role for the United States in a peace process with Israel “from now on” after the Trump administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state.

Abbas said President Trump’s decision was a “crime” that threatens world peace. He said there would be no peace in the region if the world doesn’t recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

The Palestinian leader spoke Wednesday at a summit of Islamic nations hosted by Turkey.

Abbas said the international community has nearly unanimously opposed Trump’s decision, calling it a “provocation” to Muslim and Christian sentiments and saying measures are needed to protect the identity of the divided city.