Palestinian hands still extended for peace with Israel: Abbas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said late on Saturday night that the Palestinian hands are still extended for peace with Israel after Israel closed the doors for dialogue.

"Neither they (Israelis) eliminate us nor we eliminate them ... they have their state and we do have ours," Xinhua quoted Abbas as saying.

"Doors for dialogue with the Israelis were closed, "but we did not close it and our hands are still extended for peace," he said.

Abbas added that the resumption of dialogue with Israel "must be based on stopping settlement, implementing and respecting the former peace accords and agreements."

"If Israel does not respect and implement the simple agreements, how could it respect a permanent peace agreement," said Abbas.

He noted that the Palestinians are honest by calling for dialogues and meetings based on halting settlement and implementing the former peace agreements and respecting it.

--IANS

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