By NNN-KUNA
United Nations : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas renewed calls Friday on the international community to restart the Middle East peace process and to seize the opportunity of a US-sponsored peace conference in November to work towards the creation of a Palestinian state.
During his speech before United Nations 62nd general assembly session, Abbas said there was “a new beginning for serious negotiations leading to the end of the Israeli occupation that started in 1967 and the realization of the vision of two states.”
“It is time to seize the opportunity for action by the international community to relaunch the peace process and transform the international meeting.
“Is it not time to create an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and to find a just solution to the problem of refugees to put an end to the suffering that they have endured for six decades based on UN resolution 194,” Abbas added.
The Palestinian President further called for an end to Jewish continues expansion of settlements, the construction of a separation barrier in the West Bank, to the policy of “collective punishment” and “murders and assassinations” carried out by Israeli forces.
Abbas also said that the Palestinian Authority was fully committed to a planned US-hosted Middle East peace conference and he saw no obstacle to holding it.
“Today there is not the slightest obstacle to promoting the holding of a peace meeting, which will take place shortly, ”Abbas said.
He said the Palestinian authority will handle and continue to solve the Gaza Strip situation based on Palestinian laws.