Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressing the European Parliament on the situation of people in Gaza. He said that Israel should be held responsible for the carnage., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Abbas meets J Street reps in Ramallah
Palestinian president says two-state solution can only be achieved after Palestinian reconciliation, pledges to resume peace talks as long as Israel freezes settlements
By Elior Levy
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with a J Street delegation in Ramallah on Sunday and addressed various political issues. Abbas said that the two-state solution can not be achieved without first securing Palestinian national unity.
The Palestinian president stressed that the Palestinian Authority is willing to immediately resume peace talks with Israel as long as Israel freezes settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
J Street is also opposed to Jewish settlement in the West Bank. The group, which is headed by Jeremy Ben Ami, is considered controversial and has been known to fiercely criticize Israel, particularly over the settlement issue.
Although part of the Jewish lobby in the US, the group is considered fiercely leftist.
During the meeting Abbas also addressed his intention to demand UN recognition for a Palestinian state in September and stressed the move is firmly grounded in international law and is not unilateral.
He said anyone who champions the two-state solution must recognize an independent Palestinian state on 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as capital.
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