LOC12:06
09:06 GMT
GAZA, Jan 4 (KUNA) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the
Palestinians were not hindering the peace process and that halting Israeli
settlement actions was a US and an international demand.
Abbas was speaking to Al-Ayam local paper on a flight from Brazil to Syria.
He said he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his home,
in Sharm El-Sheikh, and in Washington and that he only focused on security and
refused halting settlement actions.
Abbas said the United States failed to convince Israel to stop its
settlement actions, although it offered to provide it with military and
security supplies.
He said that the continuation of peace process freeze was not good, saying
he did not want people to be frustrated.
He pointed out that he now focused on four issues which are the
establishment of state bodies to be ready by September, the encouragement of
countries to recognize a Palestinian state, trying to revive the peace
process, and national conciliation.
The Palestinian President noted that financial aid provided by Arab
countries was not enough, especially in Jerusalem.
Israel is judaizing the city and is changing its landmarks, expelling
Palestinians, destroying their homes, and building settlements in Arab
territories.
All of these are crimes committed by Israel, he highlighted.
Meanwhile, he expressed satisfaction regarding his visit to Latin America
and the recognition of several countries of a Palestinian state.
He said he met several Latin American leaders, in addition to the prime
minister of Morocco, a former prime minister of Qatar, a Tunisian envoy, and
Sri Lanka's President. (end)
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KUNA 041206 Jan 11NNNN