Alwaght- President of Palestinian Authority (PA) Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday he has rejected an offer by the US for forming a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation as a substitute for an independent Palestinian state.
PA chief, who was speaking to Israeli movement Peace Now and Israeli lawmakers in Ramallah, said he had been offered a “political plan” by US President Donald Trump's so-called peace team that was based on formation of the federation, Ha’aretz reported.
He told the team, which includes US President Donald Trump’s advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner, and the US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, that “he would agree to such an offer only if Israel is a part of the confederation,” the paper added.
"I was asked if I believe in a federation with Jordan," Abbas said, adding, "I answered: Yes, I want a confederation with Jordan and Israel. I have asked the Israelis if they would agree to such an offer."
The US is to unveil a proposal targeting the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which Trump has hailed as the “deal of the century".
Spokeswoman for Jordanian government, also, rejected the offer, saying on Sunday the kingdom's establishing a confederation with Palestine was not a matter that is open for discussion
“discussing the idea of a confederation with the regions of the West Bank is not possible,” Jumana Ghneimat said.
Back in May, Israeli intelligence website DEBKAfile reported that the plan gave the Palestinians limited sovereignty over about half of Tel Aviv-occupied West Bank and set Abu Dis, east of the occupied holy city of al-Quds (Jerusalem), as their capital. Palestinians have historically sought east al-Quds as the capital of their future state.
Last year, Trump recognized al-Quds as Israeli regime's "capital," and moved the US embassy to the city in May.
The PA stopped recognizing the US negotiation role afterwards, saying it could no longer trust Washington.
Abbas likewise said the US was "hostile towards the Palestinians."
The US plan would also reportedly give Palestinians’ sovereignty over the Gaza Strip on the condition that the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas gave up its arms.
According to the US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Washington did not have an exact deadline for unveiling of its plan, and would not present it at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session.
Adding to the air of secrecy surrounding the plan, Greenblatt, meanwhile, said, "We will not discuss any specific ideas or private conversations that may or may not have been had with leaders in the region.” He was referring to the US team’s talks about the plan with regional states.
Separately, the PA chief remarked on Washington’s cutting all its aid to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
“The US wants to completely sabotage UNRWA," said Abbas, who has already described it as an “assault” against Palestinians.
Last week, Washington announced it had ended funding the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). A week before, the US canceled some $300 million in bilateral aid to Palestinians.
