Palestinian leader supports more talks on UN bid
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday he supports further negotiations over a draft resolution on ending Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands that was submitted to the UN Security Council for a possible vote.
The Palestinians have been pressing for some sort of action in the UN's most powerful body. Council member Jordan sponsored the resolution Wednesday, after a day of talks among Arab states. The resolution calls for Israeli forces to be withdrawn by the end of 2017 from territories captured during the 1967 War.
The resolution "comes in the context of our political battle to liberate the land and end the occupation of the Palestinian state," Abbas told a Palestinian leadership meeting.
"We will continue in our consultations with the brothers and friends through deliberations, which will take place in the United Nations," he added.
Earlier, Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said the resolution does not close the door on further negotiations on the issue, including with the United States. The US, as a permanent council member, often has vetoed measures targeting Israel.
