In rejection to a “two-state solution,” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the Israeli stalemate with Palestinians is an example of Israel’s “campaign of ethnic cleansing.”
Addressing delegates at the United Nations General Assembly, Abbas used language which was similar to last year in regards to the “ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people”:
“the demolition of their homes and prevention of their construction; the revocation of residency rights; the denial of basic services, especially with regard to construction of school; the closure of institutions; and the impoverishment of Jerusalem’s community via a siege of walls and checkpoints that are choking the city and preventing millions of Palestinians from freely accessing its mosques, churches, schools, hospitals and markets.”
Abbas said, despite Palestinian’s feelings of disappointment, he still wants to extend an olive branch to make peace with the Israeli people, NPR reports . He also stated that the government completely rejects terrorism and is committed to establishing a non-violent state and union with Israel.
In an attempt to reach full-time status with the United Nations, Abbas said to at least have the assembly consider Palestine as a non-member during this session of the General Assembly:
“We have begun intensive consultations with various regional organizations and member states aimed at having the general assembly adopt a resolution considering the State of Palestine as a non-member state of the United Nations during this session.”
Text from Abbas’ session today can be seen here.
Last year during the previous General Assembly, Netanyahu said the underlying factor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was “refusal of Palestinians to recognize a Jewish state in any border.”
