DOHA, Qatar, May 29 (UPI) -- Amid calls to freeze the peace process, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the future Palestinian state should be free of all Israelis.
Speaking before the Arab League committee in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Abbas said the withdrawal of Israelis from Palestinian land can take place "in stages," the Gulf Times reported.
The Palestinian president said he had no choice but to push for statehood. He rejected Israel's calls to break ties with Hamas saying: "Before the reconciliation, the Israelis used to tell us with whom to negotiate, Now as the reconciliation happened they say we should either choose Israel or Hamas. We told them we choose you both, because Hamas is our brother and you (Israel) are our partners."
Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani advised the Palestinians to freeze the peace process with Israel until the latter proves itself a willing partner, the Qatari daily said.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Arab League issued a statement citing its appreciation for the U.S. President Barack Obama's commitment to a two state solution based on 1967 lines, the newspaper said.
Speaking before the Arab League committee in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Abbas said the withdrawal of Israelis from Palestinian land can take place "in stages," the Gulf Times reported.
The Palestinian president said he had no choice but to push for statehood. He rejected Israel's calls to break ties with Hamas saying: "Before the reconciliation, the Israelis used to tell us with whom to negotiate, Now as the reconciliation happened they say we should either choose Israel or Hamas. We told them we choose you both, because Hamas is our brother and you (Israel) are our partners."
Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani advised the Palestinians to freeze the peace process with Israel until the latter proves itself a willing partner, the Qatari daily said.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Arab League issued a statement citing its appreciation for the U.S. President Barack Obama's commitment to a two state solution based on 1967 lines, the newspaper said.
