Palestinian lawyers run during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest near the Jewish settlement of Beit El. Photo: Reuters

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has told Arab and Islamic leaders that the United States is no longer fit to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal and should be replaced as mediator by the United Nations.

His remarks outlined a significant policy shift in response to President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Mr Abbas said his people would no longer accept the United States as a peace broker, but added that they remain committed to international resolutions which have formed the basis of the process.

He was speaking at the gathering of heads of state and top officials from Islamic nations at a summit in Turkey that is expected to forge a unified Muslim world's stance against Mr Trump's move.

Mr Abbas said Mr Trump's decision was a "crime" which came at a time when the Palestinians were engaged with Washington in a new push to reach what he said was anticipated to be the "deal of our times".

"Instead we got the slap of our times," Mr Abbas said.

"The United States has chosen to lose its qualification as a mediator," he said. "We will no longer accept that it has a role in the political process."

The speech marked a significant shift in Mr Abbas's approach toward the United States, after years of focusing on courting US goodwill because of Washington's role as sole mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Immediately after Mr Trump's announcement last week, Mr Abbas said the US effectively disqualified itself as a broker, but yesterday's speech was more sharply worded.

It was also part of a speech that called on the gathering for specific steps to counter the US decision on Jerusalem.

"We call that the (peace) process in its entirety be transferred to the United Nations," Mr Abbas said.

He also called on countries that believe in the two-state solution to recognise Palestine as a state, and urged Arab and Muslim nations to financially support east Jerusalem.

Mr Abbas also urged Muslim nations and countries with relations with Israel to take necessary political and economic measures against Israel "to force it to abide by international consensus" to end its occupation of Palestinian territories, including east Jerusalem.

Irish Independent