Abbas: No Israeli presence in future state
During tour of Ramallah, PA leader says will not agree to IDF positions along borders of Palestinian state and will not accept Israeli troops as part of international force. Adds: Netanyahu prefers settlements over peace
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Friday night that in the future Palestinian state "there will be no Israeli presence."
While touring Ramallah, Abbas rejected the possibility that Israeli soldiers would remain stationed along the borders of the future Palestinian state or will be a part of an international force that will deploy there.
"We are prepared to move toward peace based on international resolutions, the Road Map and 1967 borders, but when a Palestinian state is established it will be empty of any Israeli presence," said the Palestinian leader.
"If a Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital, we will object to the presence of even one Israeli in its territory. This is our position," he said.
According to reports, Abbas was referring only to Israelis, as the Palestinian Authority does not object to foreign Jews being a part of the international force which may deploy along the borders of a future Palestinian state. He was referring to IDF soldiers, settlers and Israelis carrying a blue identification card.
The PA leader also slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying "anyone who prefers construction in the settlements over peace is placing barriers on the road to achieving it."
Abbas said the Palestinians have submitted to the US a written document detailing their final terms regarding a comprehensive peace agreement but have yet to receive Israel's response.
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