President Abbas rejects idea of interim Palestinian state in temporary borders
By APSaturday, April 24, 2010
Abbas: No Palestinian state in temporary borders
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he opposes the idea of setting up a Palestinian state in temporary borders.
Abbas’ comments Saturday came amid reports that Israel floated that proposal as a way of restarting peace talks. A state in temporary borders would be established on parts of the territory the Palestinians want for their state.
The idea is part of the U.S.-backed “road map” peace plan as an interim step. However, the Palestinians have repeatedly rejected it, fearing temporary borders would become the final ones.
Abbas told his Fatah movement Saturday that “we won’t accept a state with temporary borders.”
U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell returned to the region Friday in a new attempt to restart negotiations.
