Good afternoon everybody. Thank you for joining us today. If we c all cell phones, especially with the tv crews here. Director heretive at the Jerusalem Fund and palestine center. On behalf of our board of directors and staff, it is a pleasure to welcome you all here today. Including everyone watching online on our livestream. It is an honor to introduce and welcome our distinguished the investor. He will be speaking about the latest developments and at next steps for palestinians on the political and diplomatic fronts. Trump recently announced his decision to recognize jerusalem as the undivided capital of israel. He also plans to move the u. S. Embassy into jerusalem. This is a major change in official u. S. Policy. With a jerusalem being such a core issue for palestinians, this move has severe implications for future peace negotiations and for any u. S. Role in such talks. The Trump Administration recently made the unprecedented step of withholding millions of dollars in humanitarian aid for political reasons. It will impact Critical Service needed for palestinian refugees. Decisions, these investor will speak about the latest developments taking place and the new palestinian strategy for the future. A little bit about the ambassador, he currently serves as the head of the general delegation of the plo to the United States and Strategic Advisor to palestinian president. The ambassadors previous roles include besser at large for the palestinian presidency. To the council and serves as director of its Foreign Relations commission. Holds a phd in economics from the university of london. He served as professor of public policy. Theofounded and shared school of government. Held aed teaching and teaching position at the university of london. He worked as an economist for the United Nations and economic londonher with of the school of economics and the Palestine Economic Policy Research institute. The investor is married ln ambassador is married and has two childrens. You please wait for the mike to come by so that everyone online continue. For the online audience, you can ask questions through twitter. Without further of do, please join me in giving a warm welcome to the ambassador. [applause] thank you very much. Thank you all for coming today. Attending this event that is a testament of how much you care about the issue of palestine and the issue of justice. I see many friends in this room. An utmost honor for me to be at the Jerusalem Fund. It is a privilege to speak at an institution founded by palestinian scholars. Respected academics, pioneers. Their work paves the way for the palestinian american experience. They provided a framework for advancing the palestinian human rights in the u. S. And within the u. S. Civil society. This is important to say. Is aerusalem fund palestinian icon of perseverance. We are a people who know too well the price of being forcibly expelled from our homeland. Thist is institutions like that have kept us strong and together all of these years. I take this opportunity, on behalf of the people and leadership of palestine, to thank you for the many years of service and for Standing Firm for the rights of the Palestinian People in the United States of america. Give a hand pleased to the Jerusalem Fund. Please to the Jerusalem Fund. [applause] you are much more interested in the following President Trumps remarks recently on the decision to recognize jerusalem. Decision to move the u. S. Embassy to jerusalem. Beensince then, there have critical developments. Considering the political process and the palestinianu. S. Relationship. A lot of commotion, i have to say, on what will happen next. I, therefore, wanted to clarify some key points where we stand at this point in time. I want to describe what we think are the options in front of us. This is not just about what has happened, it is also about what will happen and what might happen in the future. Our collective thinking in this arena. Im certain that most of you who came today would want to know about where we are going, where do we stand today. Where are we going. How do we attend to each destination. Us at thiscial for point in time is that we no matter where what our strategy is, we must base these steps on their he rooted on a very rooted principles. So that we are not lost in our journey. It is crucial that from the very beginning we outline our commitments. That should shape and inspire our search. As we all care about palestine and the region, and want a Bright Future for all of the people of the region, we may , particularly palestinians among ourselves. Route, theer on the roads, the means, the tools. Definitely do not differ on our objectives. We are united there. It is definitely important, at t in time, to call a spade a spade. We know the situation the way it is. Be. The way we wish it to a doctor does not treat cancer by diagnosing it by protecting it to be a fluke. , so bearto have a flu with my voice. It is human nature to be afraid of the unknown. Concernedget to be about the lack of clarity. Especially in these times of uncertainty. We do not like not knowing and we do not like not having control. We do not like to feel inadequate. Are responsible citizens, as a people with goals and a we conjure hope. We garner our strength, especially at this point in time. On a facing, head on, all of these hurdles. We conquer our fears. We, as a nation, are solid in our belief that, ultimately, we will research our goals. We must because this but fearless. We must be cautious but fearless. I want to reiterate our positions. The palestinian position, the people under the leadership of palestine. To make sure that what i say is taken with that backdrop and frame of reference. Are committed to International Law. Toare committed International Legitimacy. We do not do this out of a need to curry favor. We have a solid conviction. The importance of respecting and maintaining an international order. No matter how difficult and that order may seem at times, it is definitely not in its best shape as we speak right now. In a world that is beingtimes, r more interconnected, and interdependent, isolationism becomes a recipe for anarchy. Palestine people of under the leadership of palestine. We are for internationalism. We are full for multilateralism. International law, international consensus, International Resolutions mean the following three principles, as far as is concerned. Thatirst principle is israels occupation that began in 1967 of palestinian territory must end. That is included clearly in the u. S. Security council. Esolution emphasizing all of these resolutions, emphasizing the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war. International law is clear cut. Clear. Principle, as far as the International Side of the story, establishing a sovereign and and independent state of palestine on this liberated territory, including jerusalem as the capital of the state of palestine. This is not what we say. This is what the successive International Resolutions, including the u. S. Cosponsoring and voting for them. [applause] principle, resolving the issue of palestinian refugees. Than 6 million of them today. Myself included. I was born a refugee. Our president included. Issue of refugees is the origin of the palestinian cause. It is the heart of the matter. Guess what, there is also clarity in International Law about the issue of refugees, international responsibility, and the way to resolve it. We are no exception. Issues,e so many other other countries that have faced issues of refugees. Consider theto International Standards when it comes to the issues of refugees. Recognize and adhere to International Legitimacy. Not only by word but by deed. We have done our part. In 1998, the declared an independent state of palestine. That was following International Legitimacy. That was incrementing International Legitimacy. Formally theg state of israel. Recognizee did not an unidentified israel. Since 1967, it did not stop for a date expanding its illegal colonial expansion deep into the occupied territory. Not, when will there be International Legitimacy . Than 83 international , onlutions on palestine implemented. More than 700 u. S. General Assembly Resolutions on it limited. Unimplemented. Peas will prevail after these are implemented. Let us be absolutely crystal clear. Unimplemented. The two state solution was never a negotiation. E did not accept we accepted International Resolutions for implementation of International Law. Never up for further compromise. Negotiate ending occupation on the principle of establishing a sovereign state of palestine. We were looking for mechanisms and timetables for implementation. Our acceptance of International Never aons was palestinian demand. With a palestinian concession. It was a palestinian concession. The second commitment of us after International Law is our we believe our cause is just. Our demands are manageable. Our time has come. Mass movement, Popular Resistance, it is what we are adopting. That wet a coincidence have palestinian icons. It is not a coincidence that many of the leaders of the beenar resistance have rounded into jails over the past few years. Dignifiedeen that mass prayer in jerusalem a few months ago. Our mindsets and culture, our decisionmaking processes, all in this arena. Engage. Ucial that we we retain the moral high ground. We engage the entire nation of palestine in mass, peaceful protest. We havenonviolence to revert to the human user to counsel. International organs, political and legal. It is not a revenge. We are not joining the mafia. We are joining the u. N. To resist using International Mechanisms is a right and an obligation. We will not let go of this process. Our third commitment, with all of the difficulties, is the democratic process. To build our state institutions as well. We will not let go of us being on the ground. We will not. Our skin has been there. We will not let go of our most important weapon, democracy. Legitimacy over presentation. Vote inacred right towe will their government. Given what has happened over the last years, this is difficult. Difficult as it is, it is not a choice for us palestinians. It is a destiny. We cannot but revert to the people of palestine. I know that the reconciliation process has been slower than expected. Sometimes, national processes need time. Especially when the issues are big. They are crucial, deep. Sometimes taking time is not a bad indicator. It might be a good indicator. We are delving deep. Sakee not rushing for the of striking a deal. For every palestinian, we know without our unity, we can disagree. Politicalr unity as a entity, our situation would be much more difficult. Cairowas one agreement in several of months ago between palestinian political bodies. Hopefully, this will happen, and we will all converse in that direction. Believe you me, with all of the we face, our commitment to a Democratic Political system must be unwavering. Face the challenges if we do not have the power of the people and representing them. Quickly to they sixth of december 2017. The announcement by President Trump. That sudden and unilateral announcement. It has violated three major commitments. The first is the u. S. Longheld policy. Untilpresident truman, the sixth of december 2017. The u. S. Policy has been very clear. The ending of occupation. It has always considered the occupation to be illegal. That was a uturn. A sudden uturn on longheld u. S. Policy. The second violation is of President Trump himself. His promise. Since we started the discussion with this administration, were saying it is important to return to the longheld u. S. Policy. The international contours. They would tell us that they do not want to impose anything on anyone. They would tell us that they do not want to dictate, they want the two sides. You promised that and then you start taking one issue after another. The mother of all issues. Jerusalem, and later on refugees. It is not a financial transaction. Third is not to preempt and predetermine the outcome of negotiations. If you remember what the President Trump said in da vos, jerusalem is the most difficult issue he has faced. 4s, it is the sticking point. For us, it is the sticking point. No state of palestine without East Jerusalem as its capital. Drizzle and is not just a city it is our identity. It is our compass. It is our national hope. Historic sense and the religious sense and the cultural sense. Our help for medical services and education. Jerusalem is not a city we claim. It is a city we own. It is not a claim from above. It is a claim from below, from the ground, from the roads, from the hundreds of thousands of palestinians in jerusalem. Every shot, every church, every mosque. There are four things that President Trump mentioned in davos. The first is taking jerusalem off the table. There are four things that President Trump mentionedwell, e say it again today. President trump has taken the table off altogether. Will sit on that table. No palestinian. I want to see any other leader who can look us in the eye and say they represent the people of palestine. I want to see any other leader sit ats that they can such a table. The Palestinian People might not be the strongest of nations. We know our rights. We know the limits of diplomacy. We know exactly when to say no. Only agency that represents palestine. If you want to search somewhere else, good luck. The keys to peace are with the people of palestine. And with the leadership of palestine. No matter where else you are going to look, no matter how many plots and conspiracies were going to employ. The second thing that was mentioned by President Trump is that we walked away from negotiations. What negotiations . What negotiations we have walked from . Since we engage President Trump, we have been saying that we are ready. This is an opportunity. There was never an offer of negotiations. The was never an offer of engagement. There was no plan to start. This is a movie we have seen many times. It is boring. The palestinians walked away from negotiations. We have been on the table for 26 years. Beennot think there have any issues that have been negotiated more than our issue. It suffers from a syndrome of over negotiation. Too much negotiation. We did not, mr. President , walk away from negotiations. It is your nation that has walked away from the table. There will not be any table without the key issues. Took the chair and left the room altogether. We are here. We have gone nowhere. We have left nothing. The 30 the third thing he mentioned is that the palestinians have been disrespectful. We have been respectful. We have respected our own people. Self respect for us comes first. The Palestinian People first. , verye a vivid nation active nation, rooted, diverse. It is the people of palestine that we are answerable to. Nobody else. The second, we have respected the international concern. Terms. Sing these the third respect we have done is to the u. S. Itself. The longheld policy and to the majority of the American People who, according to all polls, have been against the Jerusalem Decision and announcement. Lastly, that funding will be cut. Funding of foreign aid to palestine. Let me say this. That has been there for so many years, we appreciate every penny. Every dollar. Really aing was not gift. That funding was a part of a , a u. S. Commitment, a u. S. Interest, and international and u. S. Obligation. It makes sense that the u. S. Finds its own vision of building two states. \ the u. S. Has invested into the infrastructure of peace. We appreciate it. Pressure does not work. Especially when it comes to people like us. It doesnt work. It has been tried before. It did not work. It will not work this time. If it does anything, it adds to our self pride. Resilience, if you make. May. What an aid, is that a term i weaponizzing aid. Denying Peoples Education and health care. I was educated at that school. He is turned the eight has turned a catastrophic situation into a less catastrophic situation. ,t has given people like me children, the opportunity and platform to be educated and lead a different future. Please go back, you will see the Actual Office of this visual vicious attack. He thinks that by dismantling us, the issue of refugees will finish. It does exist in his head. Netanyahu. To theher honor exists or not, lives of millions of pet palestinian refugees. We are there to sustain their living until the rights are sustained. Is firm and the International Communitys commitment is firm. Circumstances will fail to uphold its own responsibilities. Representatives in our office a couple of days ago, the mainstream and i received is that the commitment will be for sure. Ok. We are here today. Let us go back to the original statement by Pr