Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told the European Union on Wednesday that he wants Palestinian statehood "as soon as possible." Abbas was making his first visit to EU headquarters and said "We will continue to work for this as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, Israel warned Abbas of a bleak future ahead unless he crushes armed groups. "If the Palestinian Authority not start acting against the terrorists, the future will be very bleak for Abu Mazen (Abbas)," a top aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Wednesday, according to AFP.
"If these organisations feel they can get away with things like this now, they will resist him even more in the future," added the official.
