RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The Palestinian president says he will ask the United Nations to endorse Palestinian independence in September even if negotiations restart with Israel.
Mahmoud Abbas' statement Wednesday signaled a hardening of his position. Previously, he had said he would turn to the U.N. only if peace talks remain deadlocked.
Negotiations have been stalled for nearly three years, and U.S. diplomats have been trying to revive the talks.
Abbas' comments to Palestinian officials in the West Bank city of Ramallah indicate he is preparing for a confrontation with Israel and the U.S.
The two countries oppose the U.N. move, saying disputes should be resolved through negotiations. The Palestinians acknowledge a U.N. vote would be largely symbolic, but believe it would send a message to Israel.
Negotiations have been stalled for nearly three years, and U.S. diplomats have been trying to revive the talks.
Abbas' comments to Palestinian officials in the West Bank city of Ramallah indicate he is preparing for a confrontation with Israel and the U.S.
The two countries oppose the U.N. move, saying disputes should be resolved through negotiations. The Palestinians acknowledge a U.N. vote would be largely symbolic, but believe it would send a message to Israel.
The people in Palestine deserve to be free. They have been treated as second-class citizens for decades. Their movements within their own lands are restricted....even what can/cannot be imported to them has been restricted. Israeli policy is that Palestinians did not "own" the land, using the same feeble excuse that USA used to take over the lands of Native Americans because they did not "own" (officially, with deeds) the land - but that doesn't give the Israeli government the right to treat the Palestinians as second-class citizens. Let us hope for freedom for Palestine, and let us also hope for peace.
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