Abbas: 122 countries recognize Palestine's '67 borders

RAMALLAH, West Bank, July 27 (UPI) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday 122 countries have recognized the 1967 borders for the Palestinian state.

"I had extensive visits to many countries," he told the Palestine Liberation Organization Central Council in Ramallah, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

"The purpose was to lead the battle of going to the U.N. (for recognition of the borders). We want to get support and reduce opposition and misunderstanding from countries that listen only to the Israeli position and adopt its position."

Abbas said Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wants to go back the start in peace agreement negotiations, Ynetnews reported.

"We prefer to negotiate with Israel and the U.N. appeal is not a substitute for talks," he said.

Plans to seek U.N. recognition of the Palestinian state on Aug. 4 "will not be an alternative to negotiations," he said.

Abbas said U.S. opposition to the Palestinian state has come only through mediators.

"The (PA) leadership hasn't received a clear American rejection of the idea to go to the U.N.," he said. "We don't want a clash with America. We want to coordinate our positions with the world, including the U.S."

But The Jerusalem Post noted PA officials who visited Washington in the past two months said the Obama administration threatened to use its veto power in the U.N. Security Council to stop the PA plan.