BICOM

PA President Mahmoud Abbas hinted that he may leave his role as Palestinian Authority President in September if negotiations with Israel are not resumed by then. Abbas said that the PA is working towards the establishment of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, and gaining Israeli recognition for such a state. He added, however, that if no Israeli-Palestinian peace accord is reached by September then the PA will turn to the UN General Assembly to request recognition for an independent Palestinian state. Abbas emphasised that the PA will only turn to the UN if it runs out of all other options.

In a meeting with the members of the Council for Peace and Security, an independent Israeli campaign group, which includes former IDF officers, Abbas said, “we have imposed order and security here for the past four years, and things are stable now: There is law and order, the economy is progressing, life is normal everywhere in the West Bank. Israel must take advantage of the opportunity to continue [with talks].”