UN General Assembly 2011: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Addresses The Assembly
On the third day of the debate in the 66th Session of the U.N. General Assembly, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has submitted a letter to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon formally submitting a claim for Palestinian statehood.
Follow his remarks LIVE below:
Quotes are via UN translator.
Netanyahu: "Let's listen to each other and with God's help we will find the grounds for peace. I cannot make peace alone."
Netanyahu: "We have to stop negotiating the negotiations. Let's just get on with it. Let's negotiate peace."
Netanyahu says he hopes President Abbas will be his partner in peace, and that he has worked hard to obtain that peace.
Netanyahu: "The core of the conflict are not the settlements, the settlements are a result of the conflict. The core of the conflict has always been the refusal of the Palestinians to recognize a Jewish state in any border."
Netanyahu: Every country here today should ask for the release of Gilad Shalit (the young Israeli soldier who is held in captivity in Gaza).
Netanyahu argues that there are key strategic and security issues that need to be negotiated before a Palestinian state emerges. But, Netanyahu argues, if these securities are adressed "Israel will not be the last country to recognize a Palestinian state, it will be the first."
Netanyahu says Israels neighbors want Israel's destruction and are armed to the teeth by Iran. Netanyahu continues: "To defend itself Israel must maintain a longterm military presence in strategic places in the West Bank."
Netanyahu: Would any of you bring danger so close to your cities, to your families... Israel is not prepared to have another Gaza in the West Bank.
Netanyahu counters Abbas, says the Palestinians are armed with hopes, dreams and 10,000 missiles.
Netanyahu says Israel made sweeping peace offers in the past, that Palestinians consequently rejected or answered with terrorism.
"Can you imagine Ahmadinejad with nuclear weapons," Netanyahu asks. "If Iran is not stopped we all face the specter of nuclear terrorism, and the Arab spring could soon become an Iranian winter."
Netanyahu warns for the dangers of militant Islam, slams Ahmadinejad.
| @ HuffPostWorld : Netanyahu addresses the #UNGA, says he wants to extend his hand of peace http://t.co/lvXMxZOm |
Netanyahu: "I didn't came here to get applause, I came here to tell the truth." The Israeli PM says a Palestinian state can only be the result of negotiations, that the Palestinians have refused to negotiate.
| @ joshuahersh : Netanyahu hits out at the UN's: Gives prominent roles to terrorist regimes. "A majority can decide anything." |
Netanyahu: "Israel has extended its hand in peace from the moment of piece it was established. I extend that hand again today."
Abbas finishes his speech before the United Nations under loud applause.
Abbas shows a copy of the application he presented to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon before addressing the assembly.
Abbas says Palestinians deserve a normal life like the rest of humanity.
Palestinians hold up flags of countries that recognize the Palestinian state as hundreds wait for Abbas' speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 21, 2011, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (ABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images)
Abbas: "This is a moment of truth ... Will the world allow Israel to continue the last occupation in the world?"
Abbas says it is futile to start negotiations without clear parameters, that past ways of peace negotiations have proven futile.
Applause as Abbas reaffirms his commitment to establishing an independent Palestinian state.
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First Posted: 09/23/11 12:59 PM ET Updated: 11/23/11 05:12 AM ET