Palestinians Apply to UN; US Links Pakistan to Attacks
23 September 2011
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, gives a letter requesting recognition of Palestine as a state to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the 66th session of the General Assembly at United Nations headquarters Friday.
This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
Palestinians brought their calls for independence to the United Nations this week. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas spoke to the General Assembly on Friday.
MAHMOUD ABBAS: "I say the time has come for my courageous and proud people, after decades of displacement and colonial occupation and ceaseless suffering, to live like other peoples of the earth, free in a sovereign and independent homeland."
Mr. Abbas asked the United Nations to admit Palestine as a full member based on nineteen sixty-seven borders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke a short time after the Palestinian leader.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: "The truth is that we cannot achieve peace through UN resolutions but only through direct negotiations between the parties. The truth is that so far the Palestinians have refused to negotiate. The truth is that Israel wants peace with a Palestinian state but the Palestinians want a state without peace."
The UN Security Council could take weeks to consider the request for full membership. That would give more time for diplomatic efforts to restart peace talks. The Palestinians could also seek more recognition in the General Assembly as a non-voting observer state.
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