RAMALLAH, December 15, 2009 (WAFA)- President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed, today that the world must recognize borders of 1967 as the reference for negotiations.
In a speech pronounced before the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s Central Council, the president commended the European Union’s stance on recognizing Jerusalem capital of the Palestinian State.
He clarified that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to halt settlement activities for 10 months is not considered a halt of settlement activities, pointing that the Palestinian leadership will resume negotiations if settlement activities were completely ceased, and 1967 borders were recognized as borders of the Palestinian State.
The president criticized the process aimed at the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, noting that the Palestinian people have paid, until now, 2587 martyrs, 20,000 houses, and thousands of casualties as a price for the imprisonment of this soldier.
He concluded by asserting the Palestinian people’s need for presidential, legislative and municipal election, reiterating that he is not running for the next elections.
