Settlements 'Destroy West Bank Environment', Abbas Charges at UN Climate Deal Signing

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks at the UN Climate Deal Signing.

New York, 16 Rajab 1437/23 April 2016 (MINA) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hit out at Israeli settlements at the signing of the Paris climate agreement at the UN General Assembly on Friday, drawing furious response from the Israeli UN envoy.

“The Israeli occupation is destroying the climate in Palestine, and the Israeli settlements are destroying the environment in Palestine,” the leader told the 193-nation assembly. “Please help us in putting an end to the occupation and to settlements.”

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon retorted to Abbas in his address.

“Instead of spreading hatred here at the UN, President Abbas should act to stop Palestinian terror,” he said after signing the treaty.

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“This climate summit is supposed to be a demonstration of global unity for the sake of the future of our planet,” he added. “Unfortunately, President Abbas chose to exploit this international stage to mislead the international community.”

A total of 175 countries on Friday signed the Paris deal, a record for a one-day signing of an international accord, the UN said, boosting hopes of quick action on combating global warming, Mi’rajIslamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting i24news.

French President Francois Hollande was the first leader to put his signature to the accord, and was quickly followed by leaders from island-states hardest hit by climate change.

US Secretary of State John Kerry came to the podium cradling one of his granddaughters in his arms and triggered warm applause from delegates as he signed the historic deal.

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It was the largest ever one-day signing of an international agreement, marking a first step toward binding countries to the promises they made to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is a moment in history,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said after announcing that 171 countries were set to sign the accord.

“Today you are signing a new covenant with the future,” he said.

Held on Earth Day, the ceremony comes four months after the hard-won deal was clinched in Paris after years of tough bargaining.

“Some may say it’s only a small step. We need to make it a huge one,” said the prime minister of the Polynesian island of Tuvalu, Enele Sosene Sopoaga.

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Together the signatories account for 93 percent of global greenhouse gas, according to calculations by World Resource Institute.

Hollande called on governments to quickly ratify the Paris deal and singled out the European Union, saying the 28-nation bloc should “lead by example” and give final approval before the end of the year.

The Paris agreement will come into force as soon as 55 countries responsible for 55 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases have ratified it. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)