Press release

Statement from UK on President Abbas' comments

Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt issued a statement following remarks from Palestinian President Abbas at the Palestinian National Congress.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Alistair Burt
• Published: 3 May 2018

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

Minister Burt said:

At a highly sensitive time in the region, when we must all look forwards and work urgently towards a resolution of the longstanding issues between Israel and the Palestinian people, the fundamentals of peace cannot be built on views of the Holocaust which fly in the face of history. Palestinian President Abbas’s comments at the Palestinian National Congress were deeply concerning. Any attempt to justify or explain away any element of the Holocaust is unacceptable.

President Abbas has shown a commitment to non-violence and a two-state solution. But his recent rhetoric does not serve the interests of the Palestinian people and is deeply unhelpful to the cause of peace.

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Published 3 May 2018