Abbas tells you.S. Jews: I would never deny Jewish right to the land of Israel:
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told you.S. Jewish leaders on Wednesday that he would never deny Jews their right to the land of Israel, according to participants of the two-hour roundtable discussion. Ref. Source 1
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Hover)
Abbas calls for urgent Security Council meeting on Israeli strikes:
Specific Action:'eb Erekat, a Palestinian negotiator, told the Voice of Palestine Radio that Abbas instructed Ambassador Riyad Mansour of Palestine Observer Mission to the United Nations to call for an urgent session of the UNSC to discuss the air strikes on Gaza Strip that killed 15 residents and wounded dozens since Thursday. Ref. Source 2
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas formally asked the United Nations to recognize his territories as a state.
Abbas was greeted with a long round of applause as he began his speech.
He told members of the U.N. General Assembly that Israel is in a "race against time to redraw the borders," which harms the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinian families.
Less than an hour after Abbas was to end his speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will give a rebuttal speech declaring the request a unilateral move that will only hinder the prospect of true peace in the region.
In Ramallah, in the West Bank, crowds greeted news that Abbas had formally filed the statehood request with cheers, song and dance.
Mass demonstrations are planned for Friday in New York and are expected across the Middle East.
U.S. Embassies across the region warned citizens to avoid the expected demonstrations, saying they could turn violent with little warning. Ref. CNN
US Congress says acting Palestinian Authority chief Abbas is 'corrupt':
The House Subcommittee on the Middle East held a hearing on the issue on July 10 titled "Chronic Kleptocracy: Corruption within the Palestinian Political Establishment." - The chairman of the committee, Ohio Congressman Steve Chabot, said that Abbas has reportedly taken advantage of his position to "line his own pockets as well as those of his... Sons." Ref. Source 7
Israel threatens to 'topple' Abbas if Palestinians win statehood - report:
"Toppling Abbas's regime would be the only option in this case. Any other option would mean waving a white flag and admitting the failure of the Israeli leadership to deal with the challenge," the Foreign Ministry position paper obtained by AFP says. Ref. Source 8