WEST BANK: President Mahmoud Abbas calls for peaceful uprising against Israel to support Palestinian drive for full U.N. membership

Record ID: 561095

  • Title: WEST BANK: President Mahmoud Abbas calls for peaceful uprising against Israel to support Palestinian drive for full U.N. membership
  • Date: 29th July 2011
  • Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JULY 27, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT COMPOUND PALESTINIAN FLAG PEOPLE AT PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANISATION MEETING SIGN READING IN ARABIC "PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANISATION, TWENTY FIFTH PERIOD" PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS ADDRESSING MEETING SECURITY GUARD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS, SAYING: "Every day, we face what induces us to carry out popular resistance on a wide scale and not in one place, and not by one group." PICTURE OF DOME OF THE ROCK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS, SAYING: "If we really want this let's do it. I insist on popular resistance and I insist that it be unarmed popular resistance." PEOPLE CLAPPING
  • Embargoed: 13th August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAA1PM6DF26V6XL0ZWIJDUOPDLY
  • Story Text: President Mahmoud Abbas called on Wednesday (July 27) for Palestinians to step up peaceful protests against Israel, urging "popular resistance" inspired by the Arab Spring to back a diplomatic offensive at the United Nations.
    Abbas, addressing a Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) meeting, reiterated his decision to seek full U.N. membership for a state of Palestine alongside Israel, a diplomatic move resulting from paralysis in the U.S.-backed peace process.
    "Every day, we face what induces us to carry out popular resistance on a wide scale and not in one place, and not by one group," he said.
    Though the United States is expected to block their quest for a full seat, the Palestinians anticipate securing at least an upgrade in their U.N. status during September's General Assembly meeting in New York.
    Abbas's comments to the PLO central committee in Ramallah marked the first time he had openly urged popular activism in support of the initiative, echoing a call made last week by Marwan Barghouti, a leading Palestinian imprisoned in Israel.
    Palestinian officials are describing the diplomatic initiative as part of a new approach to their struggle to create an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.
    Israel, which occupied those territories in 1967, sees the move as part of Palestinian efforts to isolate it.
    Israel is wary that September could serve as a platform for protests inspired by Arab uprisings this year which have toppled leaders in Egypt and Tunisia and have challenged others in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Bahrain.
    An Israeli military commander said last week Israel would reinforce its border defences in anticipation of such protests.
    Long an opponent of violence by Palestinians, Abbas has faced domestic criticism for appearing hesitant to support other forms of activism such as protests and marches, part of what Palestinians call "popular resistance".
    He listed grievances including the expansion of Jewish settlements and the construction of Israel's West Bank barrier as reasons for wider activism.
    "If we really want this let's do it. I insist on popular resistance and I insist that it be unarmed popular resistance," he added.
    The Palestinians' plan, as outlined by officials, is to submit an application for full membership to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, while also preparing a draft resolution for the General Assembly seeking an upgrade to "non-member state".
    Palestine currently has the status of an observer.
    While Palestinian officials expect U.S. opposition to torpedo their attempt to gain full member status, they anticipate winning enough support in the General Assembly to secure the status upgrade. Palestinian officials say that would bring benefits including full access to U.N. agencies.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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