A few days after saying he “dreams of peace in Palestine,” Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas insisted that any peace deal with Israel be permanent. He called new US-brokered talks a "last chance," and urged the international community to put pressure on Israel to stop building settlements.
"Time is running out, and the window of peace is narrowing and the opportunities are diminishing," Abbas said according to AFP.
"The current round of negotiations appears to be a last chance to realize a just peace," he said.
Mr. Abbas also demanded the current peace negotiations result in a permanent solution to the dispute.
"We refuse to enter into a vortex of a new interim agreement that becomes eternalised," Abbas said. "Our objective is to achieve a permanent and comprehensive agreement and a peace treaty between the states of Palestine and Israel that resolves all outstanding issues and answers all questions."
Abbas asked the international community to condemn the building of settlements on occupied land, particularly in Jerusalem.
Peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians have been re-launched largely due to the efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry who made six trips to the region after assuming office at the beginning of the year.
