Palestinian president: No role for US in peace process

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday that the Palestinian people will no longer accept a role from the U.S. in the Mideast peace deal.

Abbas made the comments at a summit in Turkey consisting of leaders of Islamic nations and cited President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, according to The Associated Press.

{mosads}Abbas went on to call Trump’s decision a “crime,” the AP said. 

Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, has been tasked with developing a plan to promote peace in the region.

He said earlier this month, before Trump’s Jerusalem announcement, that both Israelis and Palestinians “really trust” Trump, which had allowed the two sides to make progress.

Abbas announced on Saturday that he would not meet with Vice President Pence when he visits the region later this month. 

Trump’s decision for the U.S. to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has sparked unrest. 

Palestinians have called for east Jerusalem to be set aside as the capital of a future independent state. Israel, however, cites the holy city as its own capital, with its prime minister and legislature stationed there. 

The international community views Tel Aviv as Israel’s capital.