Palestinian Liberation Organization Council discusses UN bid

[News_Editor]

Palestinian Liberation Organization Council discusses UN bid

2011-07-28 00:44:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

RAMALLAH (BNO NEWS) -- The Central Council of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) met on Wednesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah to discuss and approve the Palestinian bid for statehood in the United Nations (UN) in September.

According to Palestine News Network, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said during his opening speech at the meeting that the only choice of the PLO is negotiations and the upcoming September state recognition bid at the UN does not replace talks. He also affirmed the Palestinian leadership's support for the daily popular nonviolent resistance of the Palestinian people.



Abbas said that he is working on all five continents to gain support for the Palestinian bid in the UN, adding that 122 countries have already recognized the Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.



In addition, Abbas said the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is facing a great economic crisis. The PLO central committee demanded Arab nations to provide the needed financial support to end the crisis and enable the PNA to pay the salaries of its employees.

Earlier this month, the United States warned Palestinians that they would risk U.S. aid cuts if they pursue their plans at the United Nations without talks with Israel first. There are also reports that the United States would veto any UN bill to recognize Palestine.

Abbas, however, said during his speech on Wednesday that the U.S. has not officially announced its opposition to the Palestinian effort.

The UN debate on the Middle East is scheduled to take place during the last week of July and a vote on recognition of the State of Palestine is said to be in September.

In May, U.S. President Barack Obama called on the Israelis and Palestinians to renew peace talks for a two-state solution based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed upon swaps. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the solution based on the 1967 borders as that measure will leave a large population of Israelis in Judea and Samaria and outside Israel's borders.

Last year, Israel and the Palestinian Authority stalled the peace negotiations, which were supported by the United States and the United Nations, after the Jewish nation refused to extend a moratorium on settlement building in occupied Palestinian territory in September.

In response, President Abbas broke off direct talks as recommended by Hamas. Israel resumed settlement constructions even though they were labeled as a violation of international law by the international community.

Palestine demanded a stop to settlement construction in the disputed East Jerusalem and West Bank area as a key element for continuing peace talks, aimed at reaching a two-state solution based in the 1967 Green Line.

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