WEST BANK: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas confirms his refusal to talk with Israel without a settlement freeze during a warm welcome on his return to the West Bank

Record ID: 560155

  • Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas confirms his refusal to talk with Israel without a settlement freeze during a warm welcome on his return to the West Bank
  • Date: 26th September 2011
  • Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (SEPTEMBER 25, 2011) (REUTERS) PEOPLE CARRYING PALESTINIAN FLAGS WAITING FOR ABBAS TO ARRIVE AT COMPOUND
  • Embargoed: 11th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ID9JD9JSCP2WLRQBACXFUTXE
  • Story Text: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed on Sunday (September 25) his refusal to talk with Israel without a settlement freeze after international mediators, responding to his U.N. bid for statehood, urged negotiations within a month.
    "We have confirmed to all that we want to achieve our rights through peaceful means, through negotiations -- but not just any negotiations," Abbas told a cheering crowd of thousands upon his return to the West Bank city of Ramallah.
    "We will not accept (negotiations) until legitimacy is the foundation and they (referring to Israelis) cease settlement completely," he said, two days after presenting the application for Palestinian statehood and addressing the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
    U.S.-brokered peace talks collapsed a year ago after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to extend a 10-month limited moratorium on construction in settlements in the occupied West Bank.
    Palestinians say the settlements, built on land Israel captured in a 1967 war, would deny them a viable state. Israel cites historic and Biblical links to the West Bank, which it calls by its Hebrew names, Judea and Samaria.
    Netanyahu, who has termed a settlement freeze an unacceptable precondition, gave no indication in his own speech at the United Nations of any change in his position. He urged Abbas to return to peace talks.
    The United States, Israel's closest ally, has said it will block the statehood move in the Security Council, which is expected to convene on Monday (September 26) to discuss the application Abbas made after 20 years of failed Israeli-Palestinian talks.
    ENDS.
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