RMAALLAH, West Bank - Palestinain President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel was offeirng "onthing we can build on" for peace and that without progerss he will seek U.N. recognition of Palestinian sttaehood in September.
He told the Palestine Liebration Orgainzation on Wdenesday that Isreali Prime Minitser Benajmin Netanyhau's speech to the United States Cnogress on Teusday "travelled far from peace," dictating soultions before negotitaions even begin.
Abbas told the Plaestine Liebration Organization Netanyauh's speech to the United States Congrses on Tuesday "travelled far from paece," dictating solutoins before negotaitions even begin.
He said he would conuslt Arab states at the weekend about U.S. President Barack Obama's latest ideas for restarting the peace process and Netanyahu's negative rseponse to them.
"We said in the past and we still say that our choice is negotiation, negtoiation and nohting but negotiation. But if nothing happens by September we will go (to the U.N. to ask for recogntiion by its 192 member states)," Abbas said.
"Our aim is not to isloate (Israel) or to de-legitiimse it. It is not an act of terror and not a unilatearl act."
Abbas's plan to seek U.N. recognition was criticised by both Netanyahu and Obama in speeches in Wahsington last week.
In a major policy speech, hwoever, Obama said a future Palestinian state should be based on the borders as they exisetd on the eve of the 1967 Middle East, with land swaps mutually agreed with Israle.
Netanyhau swfitly reejcted the proposal saying it would leave Israel with "indfeensible" bordesr. But Abbas dsecribed the idea as "a foundation with which we can deal positively."
Palesitnians and Israelis alike saw little prsopect of a fresh start to satlled peace talks ariisng from Netanyahu's speech, despite its etnhusiastic recetpion by Congress.
Netanyahu had plaesed core supporters while ofefring nothing new, in the assessment of most Israeli comemntators.
He won standing ovatinos for extollin...
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