Abbas: Palestinians Will Not Approve Interim Agreements, Temporary Borders
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=22473

DEAD SEA, May 26, 2013 (WAFA - PLO news agency) – President Mahmoud Abbas
Sunday said that the Palestinian people will not agree to interim agreements
or a state with temporary borders, during the World Economic Forum on the
Middle East and North Africa 2013.

Abbas expressed his contentment with the peace initiative entitled, Breaking
the Impasse, organized by Palestinian and Israeli businessmen to support
re-launching of the peace process.

He said that if Israel agrees to withdraw from the land occupied in 1967,
all Arab countries will normalize relations with it based on the Arab Peace
Initiative.

Meanwhile, he warned of the enduring settlement activity, land confiscation,
arrests and changes in Jerusalem, because it will eliminate the chances of
the two-state solution.

He reiterated the Palestinian people’s commitment to peace and refusal of
any form of incitement.

Palestinian Businessman Munib al-Masri, one of the organizers of “Breaking
the impasse” initiative, called on all Arab leaders to increase efforts to
break the stalemate in the peace process in order to establish an
independent Palestinian state.

Al-Masri said that they decided to take a position and encourage the
political leaders to make critical decisions to break the deadlock in the
peace process and put an end to the obstacles endangering the two-state
solution.

He also reiterated Palestinians’ adherence to freezing Israeli settlement
activity and bringing down the apartheid wall.

Al-Masri called to establish a Palestinian state within the borders of 1967
with Jerusalem as its capital, reach a fair solution to the refugees’ issue
and release all political prisoners.

“Breaking the Impasse”, was launched during WEF in the presence of four key
leaders Abbas, Israeli President Shimon Peres, US Secretary of State John
Kerry, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

On his part, Peres said that despite of the deep differences between
Palestinians and Israeli, both must discuss their differences on the
negotiations’ table in order to achieve peace.

Kerry, who is currently working on reviving direct Palestinian-Israeli
negotiations, started his speech with stressing Abbas’ significance as a
peace partner.

M.H./F.R.