From the podium of the United Nations General Assembly
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today called on the world
Organization to face up to its responsibilities to end Israel’s
“relentless” occupation ensure the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state.
“The United Nations bears a legal, political, moral and
humanitarian obligation to end this occupation and enable the
Palestinian people to live in freedom and prosperity in their
independent state of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its
capital, on the 4 June 1967 borders,” he said.
“We recognized the State of Israel on the 1967 borders, but
Israel’s continuous refusal to recognize these borders has put
into question the mutual recognition we signed in Oslo in 1993,”
he added, referring to the accord providing for a two-state
solution to the Middle East conflict with Israel and Palestine
living side by side in peace within secure borders.
He demanded that Israel commit to the borders of 1967 as basis
for the two-state solution, urged those States that have not yet
done so to recognize the State of Palestine, and called on the UN
Security Council to approve full membership of the State of
Palestine to the UN.
“The path we have chosen as Palestinian and Arabs, and the path
chosen by the world, is that of international law and
international legitimacy,” underscored Mr. Abbas.
“I address the Israeli people, across the spectrum of their
society and tell them: We want to live in peace,” he stated. “Do
not listen to those who try to convince you that peace between us
is not possible.”
