(KUNA) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Tuesday that east Jerusalem is at the core of any peace deal with the Israelis.In his speech in Annapolis, Abbas noted that east Jerusalem is "a critical component in any peace accord", affirming that peace is possible and that the Palestinian Authority is committed to its obligations under the road map "under the road map in order to combat chaos, violence, and terrorism".
The Palestinian President stated that Arab presence in Annapolis reflects Arab leaders' support "for our efforts to achieve peace".
Abbas highlighted the need to reach a two state solution in the context of a comprehensive peace that includes final status agreement in addition to the occupied Syrian and Lebanese territories. "Our region stands at a crossroad that separates two historical phases: pre-Annapolis phase and post-Annapolis phase", said Abbas, describing this conference as an "opportunity that might not be repeated".
"Here I must defend, in all sincerity and candor, and without wavering, the right of our people to see a new dawn without occupation, without settlements, without separation walls, without prisons where thousands of prisoners are detained, without assassinations, without siege, without barriers around villages", he added. "For your insistence on the unity of our people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as one geographical-political unit, without any divisions, your suffering will end", said Abbas to the Palestinian people of Gaza.