Palestinians give hero's welcome to Abbas

Thousands greet Palestinian leader in Ramallah upon his return from UN; 'This is Palestine's spring,' Abbas declares while calling for a non-violent struggle. 'Raise your heads with pride, you are Palestinians'

Elior Levy and AP|Published: 09.25.11 , 14:11

Thousands of Palestinians gathered in the West Bank town of Ramallah Sunday to give a hero's welcome to Mahmoud Abbas after his appeal for recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations. Ynet ran the event Live from Ramallah.

"This is the popular spring for Palestine," Abbas declared while calling for a non-violent struggle. "Raise your heads with pride, you are Palestinians."

More on the PA's statehood bid:

In his address, the Palestinian leader said, "The entire free world has accepted your history, your aspirations and your hopes with the utmost respect."

Abbas added, "We told the world that today there is an Arab spring, but also a Palestinian spring. A non-violent fighting spring that will reach its goal. Facing this determination – which I conveyed from you to the world – everyone stood up and appreciated your expectations and aspirations."

The Palestinian leader reiterated that he will not resume negotiations with Israel if settlement construction is not stopped.

Abbas noted that the Palestinians were realistic. "Our diplomatic move, which has already begun, still has a log way to go. We must know that there will be those who will place obstacles in our path. They will face us and our existence here."

According to the Palestinian leader, "We have emphasized that we wish to obtain our rights via negotiations. The entire world was witness to the civility of this nation, which only demands its rights. We will remain on this land."

Getting ready for Abbas in Ramallah (Photo: AP)

The Palestinian leader's popularity skyrocketed since the speech, in which he defied Israeli and US calls to give up the UN bid and instead resume peace talks.

For full coverage of PA's statehood bid click here

Tens of thousands of Palestinians watched the speech on large screens set up in town squares across the West Bank.

Speaking to the London-based Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat during his trip back to Ramallah, the Palestinian Authority president ranked Benjamin Netanyahu as the last among Israeli leaders with whom he could strike a peace deal.

"Regrettably, Benjamin Netanyahu would come in last since he holds tough and almost ideological positions. He is the most rigid of Israeli leaders I have met starting with Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert and Tzipi LIvni," he said.

During the interview, the Palestinian leader described the days preceding his statehood bid submission, saying that many European countries and even some Arab nations pressed him to abandon his full UN membership request to the Security Council.