|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
. | ![]() |
. |
|
![]() |
![]() by Staff Writers Ramallah, Palestinian Territories (AFP) Feb 18, 2014
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Tuesday that all issues in the US-led peace negotiations with Israel, notably the refugee question, must be solved in line with international law. Speaking on the eve of a meeting in Paris with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is shepherding the talks, Abbas said any peace deal would have to comply with international resolutions. "We have shown the Peruvian president the destructive consequences of the settlement enterprise and the need for a just solution of the refugee question in line with UN resolution 194," Abbas told reporters at a press conference with his Peruvian counterpart Ollanta Humala. Palestinians insist that the question of those who fled or were forced out of their homes when Israel was created in 1948 be resolved on the basis of UN General Assembly Resolution 194, which defines principles for their "right of return." "We also affirm the need to resolve all questions in line with international resolutions and law and to pursue all efforts to find a peaceful political solution to this conflict which has gone on for 65 years," he said. Humala said it was a "great honour for a Peruvian president to be making a first official visit" since Lima recognised Palestine as an independent state in January 2011, nearly two years before the Palestinians won upgraded status as a UN observer state. The refugees question is one of several key issues that have come up during negotiations to end the conflict, which are due to end in April, although Kerry is working on a framework that would allow the talks to be extended until the end of the year. Speaking to 250 Israeli students in Ramallah on Sunday, Abbas insisted he did not want "to flood Israel" with returning refugees, and Palestinian negotiators have said the right of return would "not create an existential crisis for Israel." But Israel fears such an acknowledgement would open the floodgates to millions of refugees, which would pose a demographic threat to the "Jewish and democratic character" of the state. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet US President Barack Obama at the White House on March 3 at a key meeting expected to focus on the peace talks and the question of a nuclear Iran.
Related Links
|
![]() |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. |