If Israel, the United States and Europe do not want the Palestinians to seek unilateral recognition in the United Nations then they must present an alternative, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview to the Lebanese television network LBC.
Abbas stressed that in the absence of peace talks with Israel, the Palestinian leadership will turn to the United Nations in September.
"I cannot enter negotiations blindly, without guarantees or a freeze on settlements," Israel Radio quoted Abbas as telling LBC.
Abbas also stressed that Salam Fayyad will serve as the prime minister of a future transition government with Hamas, despite the Gaza-rulers’ objections. "I am interested in a government that would push us forward and accomplish diplomatic feats and not a government that would bring about another blockade," he said.
U.S. President Barack Obama had repeatedly urged the Palestinians to refrain from appealing to the UN for statehood, and instead negotiate with Israel. Obama stressed that the UN will not be able to deliver a Palestinian state, and only peace talks with Israel can lead to statehood.
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