The American Jewish Committee (AJC) has decried Thursday’s incendiary address by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas against Israel before the European Parliament, as well as his refusal to meet with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Brussels.

“Once again, President Abbas is the great disappointer,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “Instead of returning to direct peace talks with Israel, Abbas abused an international platform to deliver yet another tirade full of invectives and falsehoods against Israel,” he added.

AJC describes itself has an organization that has spent decades seeking to advance Arab-Israeli peace.

“Abbas’s malicious attack contradicts any attempt he made to verbally offer a hand for peace,” Harris said. “Indeed, Abbas demonstrably held back his hand both by his remarks, and by rejecting an EU request that he meet with President Rivlin.”

Both Abbas and Rivlin addressed the Parliament this week, as the EU seeks a higher profile in efforts to move the stalled peace process.

In his address, Abbas stated that “the occupation” is the source of global terror. “Once the occupation ends, terrorism will disappear, there will be no more terrorism in the Middle East, or anywhere else in the world,” he said.

He also accused Israel of “turning our country into an open-air prison” and repeated an age-old and deadly anti-Semitic canard that rabbis in Israel wish to poison Palestinian water.

The PA Chairman received a standing ovation for his address and European Parliament President Martin Schulz called the speech “inspiring” in a Twitter post released immediately after.

Abbas' remarks did not appear in the official transcript of the speech released by the Palestinian Authority.

“Remarkably, European legislators held up Abbas as an opponent of terrorism, even as he and his government regularly lionize Palestinian terrorists,” said Harris.

He continued, ‘’Israelis, and Palestinians who truly seek a negotiated comprehensive peace accord based on a two-state agreement, continue to await the day when Abbas becomes a leader committed to advancing the peace process, and not continually undermining it, or else gives way to other Palestinians ready for an enduring agreement with Israel."

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder also said that he was “greatly disturbed” by Mahmoud Abbas’ remarks in the European Parliament, stressing that they were severely hindering critical efforts to relaunch the peace process.

“It greatly disturbs me that the Palestinian president, who claims to be willing to engage in peace talks with the Israelis and pledges commitment to a two-state solution, would utter such offensive and inciting remarks in the halls of the European parliament,” Lauder said. “It disturbs me no less to learn that members of the European parliament not only stayed and listened to his remarks, but even stood in roaring applause afterward.”

“As Israeli leaders so rightfully said in response to Abbas’ vicious remarks, these accusations are nothing short of the blood libels that have spread for centuries against the Jewish people.

“I truly believe that a two-state solution is the only way to ensure the future of a secure Jewish state, but I am growing more concerned each day that the State of Israel has no partner in this endeavor. How can we be surprised when Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinians cheer as Israelis are murdered in cold blood in Tel Aviv, when their leader takes the diplomatic stage in Europe to spread lie after libelous lie against the Jewish people?

“I strongly urge Abbas to retract his remarks and apologize for the incitement he is feeding both to his constituents in the Palestinian Authority and to the members of the international community privy to this address,” said Lauder.