Related News
Abbas to push for UN membership
Source: Agencies |
September 18, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
PALESTINIAN President Mahmoud Abbas has said that he would demand full membership of the United Nations for a Palestinian state when he goes to the UN General Assembly this week, setting up a diplomatic clash with Israel and the United States.
"We are going to the United Nations to request our legitimate right, obtaining full membership for Palestine in this organization," he said in a televised speech on Friday.
"We are going to the Security Council," Abbas added, to rapturous applause from his audience of Palestinian leaders in Ramallah, signalling his determination to press ahead despite efforts by US and European officials to dissuade him.
Both Israel and its main ally, the US, firmly oppose the initiative, arguing that a Palestinian state can only be created through direct negotiations.
The Palestinians say almost 20 years of on-off direct talks on statehood envisaged by interim peace accords have hit a dead end for reasons including Israel's refusal to stop expanding settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, lands it took in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and which Palestinians want, along with the Gaza Strip, for an independent state.
US-backed talks
The last round of the US-backed talks between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu collapsed nearly a year ago when the Jewish state declined to extend a partial moratorium on West Bank settlement building.
A full halt to such construction on territory the Palestinians say they need for a viable state is one condition they have set for a resumption of negotiations. Israel withdrew settlers from tiny, coastal Gaza in 2005.
Abbas said the UN step would not "end the occupation," but would strengthen the Palestinians' hand.
Washington has said it will veto any statehood resolution in the Security Council.
Some US politicians have said they will try to cut American aid to the Palestinians, totalling some US$500 million a year, if they refuse to back down.
A statement from Netanyahu's office issued after the speech said the Palestinians were "systematically" avoiding direct talks with Israel.
Abbas said recognition as a state would allow a return to peace talks, but on a stronger footing. "Negotiations, no matter how difficult, will be between one state and another."
A flurry of diplomacy led predominantly by the European Union has sought to avert the UN showdown by seeking a deal that would bring about a return to talks within weeks, diplomats say.
However, the mediation is struggling in the face of long-standing disagreements over the terms of reference.
"We are going to the United Nations to request our legitimate right, obtaining full membership for Palestine in this organization," he said in a televised speech on Friday.
"We are going to the Security Council," Abbas added, to rapturous applause from his audience of Palestinian leaders in Ramallah, signalling his determination to press ahead despite efforts by US and European officials to dissuade him.
Both Israel and its main ally, the US, firmly oppose the initiative, arguing that a Palestinian state can only be created through direct negotiations.
The Palestinians say almost 20 years of on-off direct talks on statehood envisaged by interim peace accords have hit a dead end for reasons including Israel's refusal to stop expanding settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, lands it took in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and which Palestinians want, along with the Gaza Strip, for an independent state.
US-backed talks
The last round of the US-backed talks between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu collapsed nearly a year ago when the Jewish state declined to extend a partial moratorium on West Bank settlement building.
A full halt to such construction on territory the Palestinians say they need for a viable state is one condition they have set for a resumption of negotiations. Israel withdrew settlers from tiny, coastal Gaza in 2005.
Abbas said the UN step would not "end the occupation," but would strengthen the Palestinians' hand.
Washington has said it will veto any statehood resolution in the Security Council.
Some US politicians have said they will try to cut American aid to the Palestinians, totalling some US$500 million a year, if they refuse to back down.
A statement from Netanyahu's office issued after the speech said the Palestinians were "systematically" avoiding direct talks with Israel.
Abbas said recognition as a state would allow a return to peace talks, but on a stronger footing. "Negotiations, no matter how difficult, will be between one state and another."
A flurry of diplomacy led predominantly by the European Union has sought to avert the UN showdown by seeking a deal that would bring about a return to talks within weeks, diplomats say.
However, the mediation is struggling in the face of long-standing disagreements over the terms of reference.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
