Abbas: If talks not renewed, no choice but to purse UN bid

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that he will have no other choice but to request the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state – if no solution is reached through negotiations with Israel.

Abbas, who spoke at a Palestinian leadership conference, said that a suitable initiative to renew the peace talks has yet to be presented. Such an initiative would have to be based on international law, a two-state solution and a settlement construction freeze, he said. (Elior Levy)