Saeb Erekat
Saeb ErekatReuters

Saeb Erekat, senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee, on Sunday condemned statements made by the U.S. State Department against Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s speech at the UN General Assembly.

In his speech, Abbas accused Israel of “genocide” and “war crimes” and State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki responded by saying that the speech “included offensive characterizations that were deeply disappointing and which we reject.”

"Such provocative statements are counterproductive and undermine efforts to create a positive atmosphere and restore trust between the parties," she added.

Responding to Psaki’s comments, Erekat said they were “irresponsible, indecent and rejected,” according to the PA-based WAFA news agency.

He said that all items underscored by Abbas during his speech were welcomed by the international community, with the exception of the Israeli Government and the U.S. State Department spokeswoman.

Erekat called on the State Department to reconsider its positions and support the draft resolution which will be submitted at the UN Security Council.

Abbas’s speech also garnered strong reactions from Israeli MKs across the political spectrum

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said on Sunday that Abbas has become irrelevant following his speech.

Abbas’s speech “has made him irrelevant with regards to any attempts to reach an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians”, Liberman told his counterparts in a meeting in New York.