Abbas Appeals to the World's Conscience

[xchrom]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,788154,00.html



At the UN on Friday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas appealed for recognition of an independent Palestinian state in a statesmanlike speech. His appearance may have won Palestinians sympathy abroad -- but it does little to advance their cause.

With these prophetic words, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas ended a 35-minute speech which will probably be seen as the highlight of his political career. Then, amid thundering applause from the delegates of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, he held up a copy of the application for recognition of an independent Palestinian state and for full membership of the United Nations which he had submitted to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier. "I hope we shall not have to wait too long," said Abbas.

It is time, he said, that the Palestinian people attained their freedom and independence: "Enough, enough, enough." Earlier, Abbas had said that the "moment of truth" had come. "My people are waiting to hear the answer of the world."