GAZA, May 15 (UPI) -- President Mahmoud Abbas has urged Israel to resume peace talks and abandon unilateral acts, assuring it of the existence of a Palestinian peace partner.
Speaking on the 58th anniversary of what the Palestinians call "the disaster," in reference to the creation of the state of Israel, Abbas said Monday that "Israel should stop claiming that there is no Palestinian partner, because the partner exists and it is holding out a hand to build peace through negotiations."
He called on the world, particularly the Quartet Committee grouping the United Nations, the United States, Russia and the European Union, to take the initiative by convening an international peace conference "based on international resolutions and the Road Map."
"Let the dream become reality with peace based on the creation of a democratic and free Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," he added.
He said "58 years have lapsed since hundreds of thousands of our people have been uprooted from their land and homes ... making our cause an example of injustice and violation of international legitimacy."
Abbas hailed the resistance, steadfastness and struggle of the Palestinian people, stressing that "our people refuse to die and did not forget."
Abbas also hailed Palestinian democratic experience through municipal, presidential and general elections held under occupation and difficult conditions.
"We demand the world not to punish the Palestinians for their democratic choice" which brought Hamas to power, he said, and thanked the Quartet for channeling the salaries of thousands of Palestinian Authority employees.
He also called on Israel to release Palestinian funds and abandon unilateral solutions, "because that will eliminate the peace process forever and inflame the whole region."
He warned that the region is going through a "very dangerous phase" in light of Israel's continued siege, the construction of the separation barrier, daily raids of Palestinian villages and camps and assassinations and arrests.
