(Wall Street Journal) Richard Boudreaux - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is under pressure from others in the leadership to defy the U.S. Last week he rejected a personal appeal by President Barack Obama to withdraw the UN resolution on settlements. A spokesman, Ghassan Khatib, said Mr. Abbas would continue cooperating with the U.S. but would again seek censure of Israel when the UN General Assembly convenes in September and would likely ask it to recognize a Palestinian state. Eight South American countries have already done so, in response to a Palestinian diplomatic campaign that is now turning to Europe. The Palestinians suspended U.S.-brokered peace talks last fall after Israel, resisting pressure from Washington, refused to extend a moratorium on construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Israel insists that talks resume without preconditions.
2011-02-28 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive