Abbas threatens legal action against Israel settlements

Day ahead of Kerry's visit, PA President Abbas slams Israeli settlement building in Jerusalem, says 'We will not remain patient as the settlement cancer spreads'

AFP

Published: 12.31.13, 21:43 / Israel News

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas threatened diplomatic and legal action against the "cancer" of Israeli settlement building, a day ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

"We will not remain patient as the settlement cancer spreads, especially in (east) Jerusalem, and we will use our right as a UN observer state by taking political, diplomatic and legal action to stop it," he said during a speech in Ramallah to mark the 49th anniversary of the founding of the Fatah party.

Abbas said that the Palestinians "will agree to anything that fulfills their demands and rights" during negotiations with Israel, "but will not hesitate to refuse any diplomatic offer that compromises Palestinian national interests, regardless of pressures."

"We have entered negotiations amid Israeli escalation on all fronts -- the Israeli army steps up its hostilities against the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank, leading to the killing of dozens of citizens in the last few months," said Abbas.

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