Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel Friday afternoon to resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians, saying there was a pressing need for a final and comprehensive peace agreement between the two sides.
"I call for the renewal of negotiations to reach a general and comprehensive agreement as fast as possible between the Palestinians and Israel," he said at the Socialist International convention in Geneva.
Abbas added that he was committed to all the agreements signed between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel.
"I am committed to all the agreement that the PLO signed with Israel," he said.
Abbas also slammed Hamas for its violent takeover of the Gaza Strip three weeks ago, saying the new Palestinian government is bent on isolating the Islamic group.
Abbas dismissed a Hamas led-unity government earlier this month after the group's takeover of Gaza, swearing in instead an emergency government of technocrats.
"Hamas committed war crimes and murders and acted against all the beliefs of the Palestinian people," he said. "The Palestinian government
is determined to isolate the group, to outlaw all the militias and to enforce law and order throughout the Palestinian territories."
Abbas added that he intends on holding fresh legislative and presidential elections in accordance with the decision by the PLO's high council two weeks ago and called for international assistance in holding the elections.
"Two weeks ago the National Palestinian Council voted for elections and I intend on holding new elections as soon as possible. I call on the international community for assistance in holding the elections," he said.
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