"washington journal." coming up this morning, law professor stephen broderick discusses the release of the nuñez house intelligence memo. then they representative from judicial watch will talk about reaction to the memos release. be sure to watch live at 7:00 eastern this morning. join the discussion. >> the head of the palestine liberation organization delegation to the u.s. delivered remarks in washington yesterday. -- in washington. he objected to president trump's recent decision to move the u.s. embassy to jerusalem and discussed the future of the middle east peace process. hosted by the jerusalem fund, this is an hour and half.

>> good afternoon everybody. thank you for joining us today. if we c all cell phones, especially with the tv crews here. director heretive at the jerusalem fund and palestine center. on behalf of our board of directors and staff, it is a pleasure to welcome you all here today. including everyone watching online on our livestream. it is an honor to introduce and welcome our distinguished the investor. he will be speaking about the latest developments and at next steps for palestinians on the political and diplomatic fronts. trump recently

announced his decision to recognize jerusalem as the undivided capital of israel. he also plans to move the u.s. embassy into jerusalem. this is a major change in official u.s. policy. with a jerusalem being such a core issue for palestinians, this move has severe implications for future peace negotiations and for any u.s. role in such talks. the trump administration recently made the unprecedented step of withholding millions of dollars in humanitarian aid for political reasons. it will impact critical service needed for palestinian refugees. decisions, these investor will speak about the latest developments taking place and the new palestinian strategy for the future. a little bit about the ambassador, he currently serves as the head of the general

delegation of the plo to the united states and strategic advisor to palestinian president. the ambassador's previous roles include besser at large for the palestinian presidency. to the council and serves as director of its foreign relations commission. holds a phd in economics from the university of london. he served as professor of public policy. theofounded and shared school of government. held aed teaching and -- teaching position at the university of london. he worked as an economist for the united nations and economic londonher with of the school of economics and the palestine economic policy research institute. the investor -- is married -- ln ambassador is married and has two children's.

. you please wait for the mike to come by so that everyone online continue. for the online audience, you can ask questions through twitter. without further of do, please join me in giving a warm welcome to the ambassador. [applause] thank you very much. thank you all for coming today. attending this event that is a testament of how much you care about the issue of palestine and the issue of justice. i see many friends in this room. an utmost honor for me to be at the jerusalem fund. it is a privilege to speak at an institution founded by palestinian scholars.

respected academics, pioneers. their work paves the way for the palestinian american experience. they provided a framework for advancing the palestinian human rights in the u.s. and within the u.s. civil society. this is important to say. is aerusalem fund palestinian icon of perseverance. we are a people who know too well the price of being forcibly expelled from our homeland. thist is institutions like that have kept us strong and together all of these years. i take this opportunity, on behalf of the people and leadership of palestine, to thank you for the many years of service and for standing firm

for the rights of the palestinian people in the united states of america. give a hand pleased to the jerusalem fund. -- please to the jerusalem fund. [applause] you are much more interested in the following president trump's remarks recently on the decision to recognize jerusalem. decision to move the u.s. embassy to jerusalem. beensince then, there have critical developments. considering the political process and the palestinian-u.s. relationship. a lot of commotion, i have to say, on what will happen next. i, therefore, wanted to clarify some key points where we stand at this point in time. i want to describe what we think are the options in front of us. this is not just about what has

happened, it is also about what will happen and what might happen in the future. our collective thinking in this arena. i'm certain that most of you who came today would want to know about where we are going, where do we stand today. where are we going. how do we attend to each destination. us at thiscial for point in time is that we -- no matter where -- what our strategy is, we must base these steps on their he rooted -- on a very rooted principles. so that we are not lost in our journey. it is crucial that from the very beginning we outline our commitments. that should shape and inspire our search.

as we all care about palestine and the region, and want a bright future for all of the people of the region, we may , particularly palestinians among ourselves. route, theer on the roads, the means, the tools. definitely do not differ on our objectives. we are united there. it is definitely important, at t in time, to call a spade a spade. we know the situation the way it is. be.the way we wish it to a doctor does not treat cancer by diagnosing it by protecting it to be a fluke. , so bearto have a flu

with my voice. it is human nature to be afraid of the unknown. concernedget to be about the lack of clarity. especially in these times of uncertainty. we do not like not knowing and we do not like not having control. we do not like to feel inadequate. are responsible citizens, as a people with goals and a we conjure hope. we garner our strength, especially at this point in time. on a facing, head on,

all of these hurdles. we conquer our fears. we, as a nation, are solid in our belief that, ultimately, we will research our goals. we must because this but fearless. we must be cautious but fearless. i want to reiterate our positions. the palestinian position, the people under the leadership of palestine. to make sure that what i say is taken with that backdrop and frame of reference. are committed to

international law. toare committed international legitimacy. we do not do this out of a need to curry favor. we have a solid conviction. the importance of respecting and maintaining an international order. no matter how difficult and that order may seem at times, it is definitely not in its best shape as we speak right now. in a world that is beingtimes, r more interconnected, and interdependent, isolationism becomes a recipe for anarchy. palestine people of under the leadership of

palestine. we are for internationalism. we are full -- for multilateralism. international law, international consensus, international resolutions mean the following three principles, as far as #is concerned. thatirst principle is israel's occupation that began in 1967 of palestinian territory must end. that is included clearly in the u.s. security council .esolution emphasizing all of these resolutions, emphasizing the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war. international law is clear cut.

clear. principle, as far as the international side of the story, establishing a sovereign and and independent state of palestine on this liberated territory, including jerusalem as the capital of the state of palestine. this is not what we say. this is what the successive international resolutions, including the u.s. cosponsoring and voting for them. [applause] principle, resolving the issue of palestinian refugees.

than 6 million of them today. myself included. i was born a refugee. our president included. issue of refugees is the origin of the palestinian cause. it is the heart of the matter. guess what, there is also clarity in international law about the issue of refugees, international responsibility, and the way to resolve it. we are no exception. issues,e so many other other countries that have faced issues of refugees. consider theto international standards when it comes to the issues of refugees. recognize and adhere to international legitimacy. not only by word but by deed.

we have done our part. in 1998, the declared an independent state of palestine. that was following international legitimacy. that was incrementing international legitimacy. formally theg state of israel. recognizee did not an unidentified israel. since 1967, it did not stop for a date expanding its illegal colonial expansion deep into the occupied territory. not, when will there be international legitimacy? than 83 international

, onlutions on palestine implemented. more than 700 u.s. general assembly resolutions on it limited. unimplemented. peas will prevail after these are implemented. let us be absolutely crystal clear. unimplemented. the two state solution was never a negotiation. .e did not accept we accepted international resolutions for implementation of international law. never up for further compromise. negotiate ending occupation on the principle of establishing a sovereign state

of palestine. we were looking for mechanisms and timetables for implementation. our acceptance of international never aons was palestinian demand. with a palestinian concession. -- it was a palestinian concession. the second commitment of us after international law is our we believe our cause is just. our demands are manageable. our time has come.

mass movement, popular resistance, it is what we are adopting. that wet a coincidence have palestinian icons. it is not a coincidence that many of the leaders of the beenar resistance have rounded into jails over the past few years. dignifiedeen that mass prayer in jerusalem a few months ago. our mindsets and culture, our decision-making processes, all in this arena. engage.ucial that we we retain the moral high ground. we engage the entire nation of palestine in mass, peaceful

protest. we havenonviolence -- to revert to the human user to counsel. international organs, political and legal. it is not a revenge. we are not joining the mafia. we are joining the u.n.. to resist using international mechanisms is a right and an obligation. we will not let go of this process. our third commitment, with all of the difficulties, is the democratic process. to build our state institutions as well.

we will not let go of us being on the ground. we will not. our skin has been there. we will not let go of our most important weapon, democracy. legitimacy over presentation. vote inacred right towe will their government. given what has happened over the last years, this is difficult. difficult as it is, it is not a choice for us palestinians. it is a destiny. we cannot but revert to the people of palestine. i know that the reconciliation process has been slower than expected.

sometimes, national processes need time. especially when the issues are big. they are crucial, deep. sometimes taking time is not a bad indicator. it might be a good indicator. we are delving deep. sakee not rushing for the of striking a deal. for every palestinian, we know without our unity, we can disagree. politicalr unity as a entity, our situation would be much more difficult. cairowas one agreement in several of months ago between palestinian political bodies. hopefully, this will happen, and we will all converse in that

direction. believe you me, with all of the we face, our commitment to a democratic political system must be unwavering. face the challenges if we do not have the power of the people and representing them. quickly to they sixth of december 2017. the announcement by president trump. that sudden and unilateral announcement. it has violated three major commitments. the first is the u.s. long-held policy. untilpresident truman, the sixth of december 2017. the u.s. policy has been very clear. the ending of occupation.

it has always considered the occupation to be illegal. that was a u-turn. a sudden u-turn on long-held u.s. policy. the second violation is of president trump himself. his promise. since we started the discussion with this administration, we're saying it is important to return to the long-held u.s. policy. the international contours. they would tell us that they do not want to impose anything on anyone. they would tell us that they do not want to dictate, they want the two sides. you promised that and then you start taking one issue after another. the mother of all issues.

jerusalem, and later on refugees. it is not a financial transaction. third is not to preempt and predetermine the outcome of negotiations. if you remember what the president trump said in da vos, jerusalem is the most difficult issue he has faced. 4s, it is the sticking point. -- for us, it is the sticking point. no state of palestine without east jerusalem as its capital. drizzle and is not just a city it is our identity. it is our compass. it is our national hope. historic sense and the religious sense and the cultural sense. our help for medical

services and education. jerusalem is not a city we claim. it is a city we own. it is not a claim from above. it is a claim from below, from the ground, from the roads, from the hundreds of thousands of palestinians in jerusalem. every shot, every church, every mosque. there are four things that president trump mentioned in davos. the first is taking jerusalem off the table. there are four things that president trump mentionedwell, e say it again today. president trump has taken the table off altogether. will sit on that table.

no palestinian. i want to see any other leader who can look us in the eye and say they represent the people of palestine. i want to see any other leader sit ats that they can such a table. the palestinian people might not be the strongest of nations. we know our rights. we know the limits of diplomacy. we know exactly when to say no. only agency that represents palestine. if you want to search somewhere else, good luck. the keys to peace are with the people of palestine.

and with the leadership of palestine. no matter where else you are going to look, no matter how many plots and conspiracies were going to employ. the second thing that was mentioned by president trump is that we walked away from negotiations. what negotiations? what negotiations we have walked from? since we engage president trump, we have been saying that we are ready. this is an opportunity. there was never an offer of negotiations. the was never an offer of engagement. there was no plan to start. this is a movie we have seen many times. it is boring.

the palestinians walked away from negotiations. we have been on the table for 26 years. beennot think there have any issues that have been negotiated more than our issue. it suffers from a syndrome of over negotiation. too much negotiation. we did not, mr. president, walk away from negotiations. it is your nation that has walked away from the table. there will not be any table without the key issues. took the chair and left the room altogether. we are here. we have gone nowhere.

we have left nothing. the 30 -- the third thing he mentioned is that the palestinians have been disrespectful. we have been respectful. we have respected our own people. self respect for us comes first. the palestinian people first. , verye a vivid nation active nation, rooted, diverse. it is the people of palestine that we are answerable to. nobody else. the second, we have respected the international concern. terms.sing these

the third respect we have done is to the u.s. itself. the long-held policy and to the majority of the american people who, according to all polls, have been against the jerusalem decision and announcement. lastly, that funding will be cut. funding of foreign aid to palestine. let me say this. that has been there for so many years, we appreciate every penny. every dollar. really aing was not gift. that funding was a part of a , a u.s. commitment, a u.s. interest, and

international and u.s. obligation. it makes sense that the u.s. finds its own vision of building two states.\ the u.s. has invested into the infrastructure of peace. we appreciate it. pressure does not work. especially when it comes to people like us. it doesn't work. it has been tried before. it did not work. it will not work this time. if it does anything, it adds to our self pride. resilience, if you make. may. what an aid, is that a term i

weaponizzing aid. denying people's education and health care. i was educated at that school. he is turned -- the eight has turned a catastrophic situation into a less catastrophic situation. ,t has given people like me children, the opportunity and platform to be educated and lead a different future. please go back, you will see the actual office of this visual --

vicious attack. he thinks that by dismantling us, the issue of refugees will finish. it does exist in his head. netanyahu. to theher honor exists or not, lives of millions of pet -- palestinian refugees. we are there to sustain their living until the rights are sustained. is firm and the international community's commitment is firm. circumstances will fail

to uphold its own responsibilities. representatives in our office a couple of days ago, the mainstream and i received is that the commitment will be for sure. ok. we are here today. let us go back to the original statement by president trump. his first meeting with primus or netanyahu in february. netanyahu in aer figurative one state, tuesday, i'm happy with whatever, he said. prime minister netanyahu. townsend, wednesday, two-state, i am happy with whatever. he is right.

the first option has been endorsed by the international community. or, one state that one state tha terrien, democratic, and that gives full equal rights for all of its citizens, regardless of their color or creed or religion or language. in theual rights historic land of palestine. that is the second option. president trump is right. we, now, the people and the leadership, are with the two

state solution on the 1967 borders. we are with it for implementation, not for negotiation. we are with it because we believe it is possible. nonstarter,t is a the idea of a one state. however, we realize that netanyahu's government actively seeks to destroy the present possibility of a two state solution on the 1967 borders but also the future discussion of the solution altogether. his government is involved in the chance of the two systems. how else would you interpret the ruling party's decision a few weeks ago to annex the west bank? theirse to we translate

passing a lot not to negotiate a through some jerusalem and less 80 people vote? else do we explain that he that hen pride publicly is the first prime minister in israel in 20 years to build a new settlement in the west bank? so proud of it. how will see you explain what he said two or three days ago when he went to open a new road in occupied territories? system is part of the

roads that aress judea andhroughout sumaria. residents and links the west bank to israel them.sist government rejecting the two state solution by deeds. burying the possibility deep in the ground. people forget not just to

the netanyahu government. was at prime minister waspeace conference, it only after president bush threatened that shamir came kicking and screaming. shamir is netanyahu's mentor. shamir was saying i would have conducted donlad trump negotiations -- i would have conducted negotiations on he was for 10 years. right on the number of settlement.

the half aeeded million. they stole morland been shamir expected. they colonized many more thousands than shamir expected. land thanle more shamir expected. they kept us in this process for 26 years. walk out of negotiations while they were doing the real job. the real intention. they wanted to establish a process that was lasting proc ess, not lasting peace. designedted a process to prevent that.

as far as we are concerned, the two state solution and the terms of these two state solution are clear. they are not the negotiations. they are only up for implementation. we are ready to sit at a international table while the world sits here. it is the rule. for all complex, it was an international table. we will make the exception. -- we were made the exception. requiresurope multilateralism, internationalism. africa mars --africa requires

multi-internationalism. but here only the two sides can resolve the issue. when president trump said we are fine with the two state ,olution, every side wants it we endorse it, effectively gives eto power to the party unwilling. no one can want peace more than the two sides. idea is just to leave the whole sides -- the two sides with asymmetry of power in one room. so it is not a process of right but a process of my.

done with that. 26 years is a generation. my generation. enough. here in the say it house of washington and the palestine center, enough. our lives are not up for sale. our principles are set and shined in international relations. and in the hearts of millions of remember, this's is a very proud nation. very recent. we exported to you almost all profit. community is in jericho.

for theis the situation two state solution, the current israeli government all the way back to shamir and not just to blame the right wing in israel. the right wing in israel is there. -- is clear. they say what is yours, what is mind, what issuers is mine. they say it clearly. israel says we started this process. it will negotiate what israel i. theof israel never took 1967 formula is a formula for

implication but as a starting point for grabbing more. unacceptable. unacceptable. for a nation that has been able to conceive 70% of its own land concede 70% of its , it is toor peace much. the 1967 formula is not only a palestinian peace agenda, it is a international equilibrium. clarity of the current administration that they are not going to endorse the two state solution and in our opinion, this dangerously plays into the hands of the netanyahu government. given this situation, president

trump mentioned one state. this is interesting. and important. i wish the u.s. had mentioned 1988before our declaration. before we accepted international agenda, we had the plo. 1988 declaration. one state for all citizens with full equal rights. palestinians except the two state solution because of the international community. they were oriented around that idea. ideass administration has for a one state solution, we are interested in hearing what they have. and we want full rights like

everybody else. we are impartial about how we get those. it is not just about the journey but the destination. but if a two state solution is just apartheid work hard part in disguise --apartheid or apartheid in disguise, it will not work. we cannot repeat history again.

either we have equal rights or none. you cannot subdivide rights. and we are fully human. not present. 3/5ths. they marks the first day of black history month in the u.s.. please, when you bear someone netanyahu, we would statehe palestinians a minus. either full sovereignty or full equal rights in the historic land of palestine.

for every citizen. i know that it would be an interesting this session -- interesting discussion but let me try to can by saying the israeli government is absolutely that thel if it thinks transactional approach to the international community, to the issue of negotiations, to the situation is going to take it anywhere. they are also delusional about where the moral arc of history is.

even if they do not want to see or is blocking what is happening. prime minister netanyahu can speak to the congress they can he gives the get a university in california or wisconsin? note. because the arc of history always bends to us. [applause] and let me be clear, we do not want to end an injustice by creating another injustice. we dp m -- we do not. bitter tasted the taste of injustice. a bright future for israeli k

ids. for better or worse. re intertwined and interconnected. our futures are/ . we know that. as the fate of all our world that is smaller and more interdependent every day. israel is not safer or more inflictingwhen it is indiscernible pain - -indescribable pain and horror. it is not safe. that is a recipe for continued pain and suffering between our people. this living by the sword mentality will get us

nowhere. it will not secure our future and will only destroy basis of peace. we hope that israelis will listen to thier better engines rather than their current politicians. we know they will ultimately. we are the sons and daughters of abraham. we are. and the battle is not between those siblings but those who want to split the family and those who want to bring it together in peace and harmony. thelieve this by

international community. i believe this by the change happening in america. we want the truth. i believe that the ultimate goal of reaching harmony in the land of palestine will be achieved. thank you very much. in the interest of time, we will open the floor to question and answer. please keep your questions brief so everyone can get a chance. i have a quick question. do you believe that the blessing of the head of the hamas p

olitburo on the terror list destroys the efforts conducted by the plo and pa? >> we will take a few questions. >> thank you. i am a diplomat. mr. ambassador, could you speak to the unintended consequences of mr. trump's decision, perhaps some intended consequences, the organization of the islamic conference had deflated -- has eastred it supports jerusalem as the state of israel. the european union does. russia said the same thing about jerusalem being the future

capital of a palestinian state. his move has made clear that the u.s. has abandoned its role as the lead player in the so called peace process. >> thank you. now is for a unified and israellestine together and not the two state solution. among some of the decisions, there is in the threat to close the plo office in washington.

>> the plo has been engaged in the peace process since 1991. we had signed the oslo agreement and the white house. the u.s. has been paying $700 million to establish the state of palestine. that, the plo is still considered a terrorist organization since 1987. it didn't change. no one has the guts or the courage or the wisdom to come and revisit that law. this isn't just about the situation. the whole legislation and the u.s. congress and the whole way of looking at this needs to change, i had to say.

it is a function of always making sure that the territorial entity along the west bank is one territorial entity. and makingdivision sure we have one government comes in for any consideration. the second question about the role of international community and russia and the european union, all those recognizes the

borders. that is why we are saying that the only alternative is a multilateral for um. these platforms you mentioned, russia, china, latin america, these are very important players that you cannot exclude. trade withmore .alestine this is more than america. know, theborder, you shores of the u.s. we border europe. europe has a geopolitical interest because whatever borders hits the immediately. europe is crucial in being on

the table. other major international countries. the exclusion in the first place. happened in the last few weeks would get logic and to the idea -- support neede idea that we international input. we believe that the two state solution under the 1967 borders is the best way forward. sometimes that you land of s -- to save your tribe.

given the dynamics in israel and given how israeli society has evolved, that netanyahu is closing what happened in israel is a mistake. to think that the israeli society is going to be open for the discussion of a egalitarian --i want myll little daughter to live a different future than to experience conflict. we are under the pressure of time to implement a possible vision for peace. continueis vision buried, should this vision not be so worried absolutely by the u.s.

administration, then we want to explore other options. we want to know what president trump means when he says one state. inhe means one man, one vote the historic land of palestine, we will listen. system,ans a democratic arrangement, and a bill of rights that guarantees the right of every citizen, we will listen. means the people in that area will decide collectively listen.uture, we will we are not against this form of solution. we were never against it. what we are against is the lack of solution in the first place. we believe in 1988, that we

should have that platform hoping that the alliance with the international resolution would foster the process of influencing peace. that is the formula. we wanted the international community to play the role of the equalizer. to equalize the equation. but i was trying to say today very clearly, in the absence of a clear-cut solution to the two here allution, we are listen. want to we want to listen. and we are not oriented toward one form of a solution. we are oriented toward a solution. plo office, athe few days ago i was reading israeli media about the

discussion between president trump and prime minister netanyahu in davos. it was mentioned that netanyahu asked for the closure of the plo office in washington. and there was news in the israeli media that netanyahu endorsed a plan in his cabinet to closely plo office in washington. in netanyahu's head, he wants the liquidation of the palestine issue. he thinks by taking jerusalem off the table and refugees off the table and breathing down our flag from the heart of washington, he will simply achieve this. it is more than just an office. it is the symbolism of that office. it is what that office represents. it represents the collective political aspirations.

it represents the decades of struggle to get industry and an office there. they do not like to see a flag of palestine flying in the heart of washington. but i have news for mr. netanyahu, first of all, it is obvious that the united states and us have a deep rooted relationship, bilateral and independent of what israel wants. you remember the administration thebacktracked from original decision in november allowing us to continue near and allowing the bilateral relationship. this is very important for communication to continue. mr. netanyahu, if he keeps pressuring in that area, even if he manages to bring or close an office or institution, this

would be a palestinian home and there are thousands of palestinian homes and flags. they are delusional if they tack ourat if you at office, the issue of 6 million refugees will go away. they are delusional and they think a message about jerusalem from the u.s. president will take away jerusalem. i was in jerusalem a few weeks ago and nothing had changed. the east is still occupied by military force. the people are still speaking out. they still open their shops if t= you want to smell the ancient smell of herbs. is becoming more delicious. own jerusalem.

hanged and nothing will change. the only thing that changed is that mr. trump and the u.s. administration has decided to walk out of negotiation. to walk out of the mediator position they held for all these years. nothing will change about our rights and the mainline of protection for us, the main line of defense is the people. with all due respect to international adjustment -- legitimacy --you saw the people someone comesif and tells them is not your city, this is not your heritage. this is not your heritage or identity.

[applause] why does the palestinian authority continue to cooperate on security to police the will of silence the will of the palestinian people? husam: you have to distinguish between our ability to maintain a nonviolent completion and what -- confrontation, what you per -- asas people preventing people from demonstrating. people have been demonstrating with the full support of the leadership as happened in july and happened in so many other areas to all these wonderful examples. the latest warriors of popular resistance are all members of the [inaudible] and they have been imprisoned only in the last few weeks. resistance are all members of

want to cast not blood appeared we don't want it. we are not bluffing when we say our commitment to a nonviolent way of engaging the occupation, we mean it. sir, we mean it. some would say that you know this is really being part of the status quo, no. this is challenging the status quo. violence does not work. it doesn't help us. we are a nation with a calling, rights and international support. for too long this has been confused with us being scared of the resistance. nonviolence.n nonviolent resistance. >> why do it yourself and then not do it with the israelis?

husam: all those have been leading the efforts, check the names and families. go see our support. it is a very competent matter. a nation must always look to find where it is strongest and we are not the strongest in the military arena. we are not. we are strongest in the moral arena and in the political arena and the legal arena, and why do we always want to engage in the boxing ring with mike tyson. he will eat your ear. [laughter] in this regard israel has no , limits because it has shielded and protected. blaming the palestinian leadership and authority and not , blaming the international system for giving this long exercise and practice of immunity. so we want to see our people as well. we don't want to see our children being slaughtered with

no accountability. slaughtered. today, as i was driving here, i saw the disheartening news of seven innocent people in gaza losing their lives and injuries. and casualties. why? because there was some sort of and an explosion, and that should have been averted . the inhumane treatment of gaza for decades is because of a twisted mentality, not by the palestinian leadership or the people of palestine. a regime that has seen the complicity and the complacency of so many. it is unbearable, a war right in front of the eyes of the world. destroy neighborhoods burying

, children, babies. we don't want to bring suffering on our people. we don't. and we consider to be the human soul, the human being, to be our most important asset. want dead palestinian heroes, we want free and alive palestinian heroes. free and prosperous, free and educated. if you blame us for that, bring it on. >> thank you for your remarks. i'm peter, retired state department foreign service and also i am on the board. my question is many american congressmen and senators visit israel, not very many go on to the west bank. so my question is can you describe for us a little bit about your efforts to have members of congress get a clearer picture of what the situation is.

husam: yes, this is an important question and you are right. the way that the truth has been blocked here and the concerted effort to make sure that there is only one side of the coin presented, one side of the narrative or the story, that is not even the israeli side but a distorted minority who has the money and organization. we haven't been doing as much in that arena in the last few decades, but it is not because we don't want to see them. things have been changing. in the last few years we've been senior u.s.veral congressmen and i myself, before i became the master here, i sen.

myself received u.s. senators congressmen over the last year , and the year before. this is beginning to happen and i do not want to reveal much, but there is now a concerted effort to send many. there is much more interest. because in the past many congressmen and women would not find it easy to do so. now they do. things have changed. in the past, some would consider it to be political suicide. now they don't. i assure you one thing, things are changing in the conversation. ever since i arrived, i've been going to your congress almost on a daily basis, meeting across the board, republicans and democrats, the senior heads of parties and what have you. things are changing. and the change of the public opinion in america is also reaching the congress. when the presidential candidates

were competing, some of them are supporting palestinian rights and guess what -- they got more votes. even president trump himself, was going was going around durg the republican race and he said the heartland of the evangelical movement will be neutral because the priorities were israel is number four, number five, things are changing. someone asked me about closing the office here and it's part of the israeli government realizing that things are changing. they wanted to disrupt it and abruptly shut it down. they see where the wheels of history are going. they see it. and they want to insert poison, suspicion in the body of the growing palestinian-american relationship. the growing public awareness and

the coup d'etat of what is going thanks toal media, social media by the way and the , alternative sources of media. you are right. we have a homework to do and we need to do it and this is the moment. time is -- i have been saying to the palestinian community, we believe that this is our moment in america. for three reasons. the first is the change in the public opinion and it's real. it is real. the second is the change among , i.e., themunities new generations of palestinian american unity. what is the word -- confident. they know the culture. they are proud americans and proud palestinians. they're not concerned with survival but they're concerned with political action. and the third is the change among the jewish community.

many, many members of the jewish "not iny are saying, our name, what is this?" and i encounter them on a daily basis. leaders, youth movements, this is a very important moment for us. we must seize it and that explains to you why they want to shut the office, they know where we are going. quoted asofficial was saying that a peace plan will be presented to the palestinians palestiniansif the come to the table or not. how would the palestinians receive the proposal? husam: say it again. >> a u.s. official was quoted as saying that the peace plan will be presented to the palestinians , whether or not the palestinians come to the

negotiating table. how will the palestinians receive such a proposal? husam: we will not receive any proposal that is less of the implementation of international and u.s. position about the two state solution on the 1967 borders. we will not receive any proposal 1 centimeter less of that. next. thank you for your visit, ambassador. donaldioned a lot of trump's provocations, jerusalem, and it was mentioned closing the offices. and palestinians have refused vice president mike pence's visit so one might imagine that the relationship between the palestinians and the united states are breaking down, but what we saw three days ago was a group of activists disrupting an official meeting at the chamber of commerce in bethlehem, which by the way is a nonviolent

popular resistance, which indicates continued engagement -- so, the question i want to ask, and it is inspired from a refugee in bethlehem, is to what extent will the palestinian government continue to coordinate with united states and what aspects of the relation will stop? husam: this is a very important question. so people realize that we distinguish very clearly between the bilateral relationship -- let me clarify. the u.s. palestinian relationship has three dimensions. the dimension is the bilateral first relationship, the relationship between the people of america and palestine. this has nothing to do with the peace process. this has nothing to do with the peace plans. the second i mentioned is the bilateral relationship. the third and the last dimension is the multilateral diamond

chain, america's contribution, voting on the security council, or not voting, what have you. these are the three dimensions. what we have been saying is that since the announcement, america has self inflicted on the role of the media and the trilateral relationship. america is disqualified now paired you cannot be in -- now. you cannot be a mediator if you forgo the rules that you presented to us. you have single-handedly , unilaterally suddenly change d the rules of engagement and we are saying, we are not interested in engaging under such rules of engagement. we are not. but, we are absolutely, adamantly, strategically interested in the bilateral relationship and america is america. this is a very important country . it is not only a superpower, but

not unipolar. you see the opportunities. even on the announcement in jerusalem thousands took off the o the streets. in chicago, new york, what have you. we also are thankful for the american support for the palestinian people and institutions. and we always want to maintain, and not only maintain, what was said by the president a few weeks ago and we will double down on our efforts in the bilateral arena. on our efforts in making sure that the real objective about the israeli prime minister by pushing in all these directions , the jerusalem announcement, refugees, what is the real

objective? the first is preempting and believe you me, israel was panicking about this, even if ultimately they were not perfecl for the palestinians, but the discussion in the political arena is not what they wanted. even discussing political issues. the second is to predetermine the outcome before it even starts. you see, so the logic now. the third is to destroy the two state solution. hearte jerusalem is the of it, the very heart of the two state solution. so if you aim and shoot at the will -- theody government does not want the two state solution. they see the essential threat and they want to abruptly destroy the growing bilateral relationship between palestine and the united states. here comes your question. we will not allow that to happen. we will not allow that to happen

. we must invest more and more in our connection outreach, , relationship to the american government and representatives , the congress, and public. and we will. this is different. whate have the right for did you call it -- nonviolent protests. they do. but we have a legal system. when somebody presents to the legal process any complaints, we will have to investigate it. and that is a very fine line we must define. we appreciate the u.s. assistance to the people of palestine. we do. and we must distinguish, separate clearly between that and the political track. >> i think we have time for one more question. >> thank you.

thank you, ambassador for your presentation. it is a very important one and really we would like to encourage you to continue to say this fact and convey to the american public opinion. i know that some americans know the facts, but some of them would like to hear this fact, and we are here with you. and i just heard the news that a meeting today for the peace initiative, they had today, and they have adopted a plan or a movement plan for rejecting the trunk decision. and ourcontinue that

heart with you. i have other questions. we heard some european countries are in the process to recognize our palestine, like maybe poland or slovenia or luxembourg, so if that is so, what efforts are you taking to take this initiative? husam: as far as recognition, palestine is recognized by 138 countries. is the u.s. and western europe caught because we are also recognized by the majority in eastern europe. in western europe, there has been a is country, which started with sweden if you remember, , fully recognizing the state of palestinian and sweden did that out of how much sweden as a country and political system is much more based on values of interest --es van

than interest in fears. and i'd like to give a hand to sweden actually. [applause] also because my kids were born in sweden. i have worked with the swedish social democrats in that very important moment. the vatican recognizes the state of palestine and the vatican has such a resounding symbolism and for recognizing the state of palestine. and we are asking and demanded from the rest of the european countries, that if you want to really invest in the two state solution, then you better start by recognizing the two state solution, because by not recognizing the two state solution it would be taken by continuing policy of expanding and colonizing, and we you have to draw a border. palestinians have to say that we cannot continue to recognize israel.

>> what do you mean by that? husam: what i was saying is recognition under the state of palestine under the 1967 borders is a very important thing to do for any country, european or otherwise, but it is europe we are focusing on. if they really need to see the two-step solution, the two state solution because it is dying in recognitione, then becomes the only act that makes sense politically and legally. i cannot reveal much about that -- ahere is a lot of talk nation and as you mentioned there will be delegations to visit the capitals of his country. and number one on the agenda is the recognition of the state of palestine under the 1967 borders. what i mean practically is means to accept independence and under the 1967 borders. and the right of the palestinians to go to their

homes. that is the first formula. to go to their original homes. my father lost his farm in what has become israel. i have the right to go and farm the land if i choose so and be compensated according to , international law. that is the first scenario. the second scenario, if this unrealistic be given the situation we are in, we would have to take our heads sand and start listening and sand and start listening and discussing, nationally and internationally, the real option of fully equal rights for all the people who live in the historic land of palestine. thank you very much. thank you. [applause] thank you. thank you.

>> of three trips today considering bills battling russian cyber attacks. the senate also has to take up that measure for thursday. first images return at 3:00 p.m. eastern -- first senators return at 3:00 p.m. eastern. director of u.s. patent and trademark office will go down the nomination scheduled at 5:30. the house is live on c-span and the senate is live on c-span2.