Abbas: If Palestinian state is created, I may step down

PA president says in interview with Italian paper ahead of visit that if he achieves all his aims, which include Palestinian reconciliation and economic development, then he will retire.

By REUTERS
mahmoud abbas_311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
mahmoud abbas_311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
MILAN - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview published on Saturday that he may step down this year if he achieves all his political goals, which include the establishment of a Palestinian state.
"When I was elected my program was: Greater security, economic and social development, achieving [Palestinian] reconciliation, and then independence of our state," he said. "This year there is the possibility of achieving all this. Then I will go into retirement."
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In an interview with the Italian newspaper la Repubblica ahead of a trip to Italy, Abbas restated that in the absence of progress in peace negotiations, the Palestinians will unilaterally seek statehood recognition from the United Nations in September.
"If there is no progress in the talks, our second choice is going in front of the United Nations," he said.
Abbas was elected president in 2005 and has said he will not seek another term in a ballot already years overdue.
Last week his Fatah faction signed a deal with the Hamas that is meant to end a four-year-rift and reunite their now-divided administrations in the West Bank and Gaza, paving the way for new elections.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has condemned the unity pact "as a tremendous blow to peace."