Abbas says 'No' to temporary state
Photo: AP
The Palestinian Authority would not accept the idea of a temporary Palestinian state, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas reiterated on Wednesday.
In a meeting with Palestinian officials in Ramallah, Abbas said he backs the Palestinian position which demands the establishment of a Palestinian state in all of Gaza and the West Bank.
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Recently, there have been several reports regarding Abbas' willingness to favorably consider the idea of a temporary Palestinian state, in preparation for a future state that would extend across larger territory. However, Abbas has now dismissed the notion out of hand.
National referendum
Moreover, any final deal with Israel would be put to a national referendum, the Palestinian leader said. Abbas also expressed his hope that the future Palestinian state would be a democratic one and allow residents to live in peace and security.
The Palestinian leader called on Israel to transfer security control of the border crossings between Gaza and Egypt to the Palestinian Authority, a proposal Israel has rejected thus far due to security concerns.
However, an Israeli failure to hand over the crossings would mean "it would not be a genuine, full withdrawal," Abbas said.