WEST BANK: Palestinian President Abbas: We don't want to "flood" Israel with Palestinian refugees

Record ID: 274495

  • Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian President Abbas: We don't want to "flood" Israel with Palestinian refugees
  • Date: 16th February 2014
  • Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (FEBRUARY 16, 2014) (REUTERS) AUDIENCE CLAPPING AS PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS ENTERING AUDITORIUM TO ADDRESS ISRAELI STUDENTS ABBAS SITTING POSTER SHOWING PALESTINIAN FLAG AND DOVE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS SAYING: "Let's put the issue of refugees on the table. Because it is an issue that must be resolved, to put
  • Embargoed: 3rd March 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA48JX2W2AHL8O5VJBF08YICMG3
  • Story Text: Addressing a key sticking point in U.S.-brokered peace talks with Israel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed media reports on Sunday (February 16) he wanted to "flood" the Jewish state with Palestinian refugees.
    Abbas spoke to about 300 Israeli students in the West Bank city of Ramallah two weeks before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets President Barack Obama in Washington as an April deadline looms in negotiations for a two-state solution.
    He said the Palestinians wanted to keep alive the refugee issue in the talks resumed after a three year freeze in July under U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's tutelage, to ensure a resolution of the issue involving Palestinians who fled or were driven away during 1948 hostilities when Israel's was founded.
    "Let's put the issue of refugees on the table. Because it is an issue that must be resolved., to put an end to the conflict. So that the refugees can be satisfied with the solution. But we do not seek and we will not work towards flooding Israel with millions (of refugees) which would change its social composition", Abbas said.
    Abbas's comments were seen as his clearest suggestion yet he might accept Israel's demands that refugees be permitted to "return" only to a Palestinian state under a peace deal.
    Netanyahu had accused Abbas in January of being unwilling accept that Israel should not be "deluged" by refugees as part of a deal envisaged for Palestinian statehood in land occupied by Israel since a 1967 war.
    Despite the signs of progress on refugees, the sides still seemed far apart on other critical issues in the negotiations, and thus far progress has been scant.
    Israel also insists on outright recognition as a Jewish state, a demand Abbas has thus far balked at accepting.
    Kerry has said he hoped to soon publish a framework agreement or possible blueprint via which to advance to a broader deal.
    Both Netanyahu and Abbas face pressure from their respective political allies against yielding on core issues for a deal.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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