Palestine: PLO to Extend Abbas’ Term

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced he will seek a U.N. resolution defining the Palestinian territories based on the 1967 borders.  Rejecting a return to violence, Abbas also said he would resume peace talks if Israel institutes a settlement freeze “for a specific period” and recognizes the 1967 borders as the outline for a Palestinian state. His speech came at the launch of a two-day meeting of the PLO, which will likely result in the extension of Abbas’ presidential term in lieu of cancelled elections.

Hamas has declared any extension illegitimate. In fact, yesterday Hamas celebrated the 22-year anniversary of its founding. During the festivities, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya declared “We will never give up on Palestine from the river to the sea.”