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Abbas: Israel must freeze settlements

Global Arab Network - - Adam Turner

Saturday, 26 September 2009 19:05

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says a complete Israeli freeze of settlement activity is needed in order to "salvage" the Mideast peace process.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Friday in New York, Abbas insisted the move was necessary in order to "salvage" the Middle East peace process.

Abbas said that Israel's continued building of settlements "will undermine the goal of establishing a geographically contiguous Palestinian state".

"How is it conceivable that negotiations can be held on borders and Jerusalem when Israeli bulldozers are working to change the reality on the ground with the aim of creating a new reality and imposing borders as Israel desires?

"How can one conceive holding negotiations without agreement on the terms of reference and the objective and goal of these negotiations that the whole world has unanimously agreed upon?"

Abbas addressed the UN body as the head of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), rather than as president of the Palestinian Authority which rules the West Bank.

His speech came a day after Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, addressed the General Assembly, accusing the world body of bias towards the Palestinians.

It also followed a meeting on Wednesday between Barack Obama, the US president, Netanyahu and Abbas, during which the Israeli PM refused to yield to Abbas's demand to halt settlement building as part of the road map for peace.

The road map is a 2003 peace plan presented by mediators of the Quartet - the UN, EU, US and Russia - to Palestinian and Israeli leaders. (Reuters, Aljazeera)

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