Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas urged Israel yesterday to accept a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, warning that the opportunity “may not stay on the table for a long time” given the political upheavals caused by the Arab Spring.
Mr Abbas set out the Palestinian case for statehood at a World Economic Forum conference in Istanbul, stressing that membership of the United Nations should not prejudice negotiations with Israel.
“I would like to address our Israeli neighbours and say we are seekers of peace and freedom and our people made a major sacrifice when they accepted establishing their state on less than a quarter of the area of historical Palestine,” Mr Abbas said. “So do not turn your backs . . . this opportunity may not stay on the table for a long time because the region is witnessing rapid developments,” he said. – (Reuters)