Abbas: Palestinians embody independence

Published today (updated) 15/11/2009 12:28

Bethlehem – Ma’an –

Independence is already a reality embodied in the Palestinian people’s life, actions, and accomplishments, President Mahmoud Abbas said in a written message commemorating Palestine Independence Day on Sunday.

Sunday is the anniversary of the 1988 declaration of independence by the Palestine National Council (PNC), which met in exile in Algeria. The announcement declared a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza with Jerusalem as its capital.

With a Palestinian state still an unrealized dream, Abbas in his message said that all countries and international forces “that support freedom, justice, and peace” supporting the Palestinian struggle.

He urged the peoples of the world to redouble their efforts to support the Palestinian people and help them achieve independence and get rid of occupation. Abbas warned that unless the Palestinian people are afforded their rights, the whole region will never enjoy stability and prosperity.

Furthermore, Abbas reiterated that Palestinian national unity based on national consensus would protect the Palestinian national project.

“We will continue to call for unity, exert huge efforts to close ranks and restore that unity in accordance with the Egyptian reconciliation proposal which we have already signed out of care for the higher Palestinian interests,” Abbas’ letter said.

On Saturday the top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat was quoted suggesting asking the United Nations to recognize a declared Palestinian state.

The idea is clear and understandable," Erekat told the Palestinian daily newspaper Al-Ayyam. "Now we mobilize."

Palestinians will bring the issue to a vote before the United Nations Security Council, which would declare a Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 border with Israel, he explained. He called the initiative a response to Israel's policies, which would send a clear message that "settlements and other unilateral actions are null and void and do not establish rights or territory."

PNA seeks UN recognition of Palestinian state

·PNA is working to get the UN recognition of a Palestinian statehood. ·Calls for recognizing the Palestinian statehood have increased recently. ·More than 100 countries recognize Palestine except the U.S., France and Britain.

    RAMALLAH, Nov. 15, 2009 (Xinhua) --

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is working to get the UN recognition of a Palestinian statehood on territories Israel captured in 1967 Middle East war, an official said on Sunday.

    "We are now seeking to get a resolution recognizing a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital," said Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian negotiator.

    His remarks were made on the occasion of Palestine's Independence Day, which was set by late leader Yasser Arafat in 1988.

    "There is no need to declare a new independence day, what is needed is that the Security Council and the General Assembly announcing their recognition of the state," Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio.

    Calls for recognizing the Palestinian statehood have increased recently after peace negotiations between the PNA and Israel have come to a deadlock.

    The continuation of the Jewish settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, two territories along with Gaza will form the Palestinian statehood, has thwarted mutual negotiations that were intending to achieve the two-state solution.

    Erekat explained that Israel occupies the West Bank and East Jerusalem and "tries to boost the idea of a statehood with provisional borders." The Palestinians refuse the proposals of a statehood with temporary boundaries that would be subject to more negotiations.

    Meanwhile, Erekat said that President Abbas will visit Latin American states "to gather the support of the Latin group to the Palestinian efforts to get the UN recognition of the statehood."

    More than 100 countries recognize Palestine but the United States, France and Britain are not among these countries. Earlier, Nabil Shaath, an official of Abbas's Fatah party, said that some of the European states that did not recognize Palestine in 1988 "are ready to think seriously now over this issue and there are discussions with the Europeans about the need to recognize the Palestinian state."

Editor: Wang Guanqun