Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech at a press conference after the extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec. 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Anadolu Agency)
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attend the United Nations Security Council's meeting on the situation in the Middle East on Feb. 20, the body's monthly president said Thursday.
The meeting would be a good thing for Council members to listen to Abbas directly, Kuwait's Ambassador to the United Nations Mansour Al-Otaibi, president of the council for February, said at a press briefing.
Palestinian women take part in a protest in Gaza City on Jan. 29, 2018 against the U.S. move to freeze funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. (Xinhua/AFP)
No Council member opposed his presence, he said, adding that there was no information so far as to whether Israel would participate.
Presenting the 15-member organ's work program for the month, he said conflict mediation, preventative diplomacy, humanitarian issues and enhanced Council working methods would be priorities for the Kuwaiti presidency.
Palestinians react at tear gas that was shot by Israeli forces after Friday prayer on a street outside the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya, Feb. 2, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS)
The Abbas's coming to the council is in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital last December, which triggered an outcry from Palestinians.
