OPINION

Abbas misses another chance to help Palestinians

News, Diana Buttu, Published on 05/10/2018

» On Sept 27, Palestinian Authority President and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN General Assembly for the 14th time. Among Palestinians, expectations had been high that Mr Abbas' speech at the United Nations would be "historic", and that he would articulate a new strategic path forward for Palestinians in the wake of the Trump administration's near total adoption of Israel's positions, namely moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, cutting all funding to UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for the well-being of Palestinian refugees, and closing the PLO diplomatic mission in the United States.