Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas, called today on the United States administration to press Israel into cancelling the so-called ‘nationalist flag march’, scheduled to take place next Sunday in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Attorney General Akram Al-Khatib on the results of the probe into Israel’s murder of veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Abu Rudeineh said the US administration was the only party capable of pressing the Israeli government to stop its daily harassment of Palestinians, including settlement construction and killing of civilians.

“The Palestinian leadership has repeatedly warned the Israeli government against playing with fire through this march, which is rejected and condemned,” he said. “Israel underestimates the Palestinian people and the Arab nation, and its assessments are always wrong, the Palestinian people will be able to protect their holy sites.”

On the results of the probe into Abu Akleh’s murder, Abu Rudeineh pointed out that the Public Prosecution’s report “constitutes an official document that convicts the Israeli army of committing massacres, killing Palestinians and assaulting civilians, and these crimes will be documented and presented to the international community.”

“The report is now at the disposal of President [Mahmoud Abbas] and has not been handed over to any party until this moment. We are confident in our [Palestinian] people, their capabilities and experts, and in the report which is built on accurate and solid scientific foundations.”

He added, “We will continue to take all the legal procedures until the end, and [we will go] to all international forums and anywhere”, including the International Criminal Court. “We will not abandon any of the rights of the Palestinian people. International courts will be presented with all the documents, including this important report.”

Abu Rudeineh said “the previous US administration treated the Palestinian accession to the ICC as a nuclear option. Still, President Mahmoud Abbas rejected these threats, and insisted on joining the court.”

“The US administration and the international community are required to assume their responsibilities towards Israel as an occupying power, to work to stop the violations of the occupation, to force Israel to abide by international law and legitimacy and to stop providing it with protection.”

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA)