French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that the United States had “marginalized itself” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by unilaterally recognizing Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of the Zionist entity.

“The Americans have marginalized themselves and I am trying to not do the same thing,” Macron told a joint press conference with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas during which he also ruled out recognizing a Palestinian state in the short term.

For his part, Abbas said that his people would “no longer accept” any peace plan proposed by the United States following Washington’s decision.

“The United States has proven to be a dishonest mediator in the peace process and we will no longer accept any plan from the United States,” Abbas said after meeting French President in Paris.

He also hit out at efforts by the US to intimidate countries ahead of a vote at the UN on Thursday which saw 128 countries condemn Washington’s decision.

“I hope that the others will learn the lesson and understand that you cannot impose solutions by using money and trying to buy off countries,” he added.

Source: AFP