Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared Tuesday that he was
planning to ask the UN General Assembly to upgrade the status of a Palestinian
state to non-member on November 29.
He said that the vote on the
Palestinian application would take place on the same day, which marks
International Solidarity Day With The Palestinians.
Abbas's announcement
came during a press conference in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed
Amru.
Earlier, Abbas met with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and
discussed with him the statehood bid.
Abbas said that the Palestinians
were prepared to resume peace negotiations with Israel the day after the UN
votes in favor of upgrading the status of a Palestinian state.
Abbas said
that he agreed with Arab League foreign ministers with whom he met in Cairo late
Monday that the application would be presented to the UN on November
29.
The Arab ministers pledged to support the statehood bid and Egypt was
working to convince other countries to vote in favor of the statehood bid, Abbas
added.
He said that although he expected "some obstacles," he was still
confident that the statehood bid would succeed.
"Our hearts are open to
the Americans and Israelis," Abbas said. "We have told them that when we obtain
the status of non-member in the UN, we would be prepared to discuss the peace
negotiations to talk about six or seven core issues."
Abbas said he also
discussed with Morsi the repercussions of the statehood bid and Arab support for
the Palestinians if they are subjected to financial sanctions.
Abbas
claimed that Hamas supports his effort to upgrade the status of a Palestinian
state. He also reiterated his commitment to the "right of return" for
Palestinian refugees to their former homes inside Israel on the basis of UN
resolution 194.
Abbas accused Israel of taking unilateral measures by
building settlements in violation of the agreements signed with the PLO. "Why is
going to the Un a unilateral act when there are more than 500,000 Israelis in
the West Bank in violation of the Fourth Convention of Geneva?" he asked