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He said that none <strong>of</strong> Israel’s national security interests appeared in<br />

<strong>the</strong> resolution, and that this was why his country could not support it.<br />

“For as long as President Abbas prefers symbolism over reality, as<br />

long as he prefers to travel to New York for UN resolutions ra<strong>the</strong>r than<br />

travel to Jerusalem for dialogue, any hope <strong>of</strong> peace will be out <strong>of</strong> reach.”<br />

He called <strong>the</strong> resolution “one-sided” and passing it would show that<br />

“<strong>the</strong> international community is willing to turn a blind eye to peace<br />

agreements”.<br />

Binyamin Netanyahu, <strong>the</strong> Israeli prime minister, meanwhile,<br />

condemned Abbas’ statements as being “hostile and poisonous”. In a<br />

statement released after <strong>the</strong> speech, Netanyahu said that “<strong>the</strong>se are not <strong>the</strong><br />

words <strong>of</strong> a man who wants peace”.<br />

The latest bid comes a year after <strong>the</strong> Palestinian leader first<br />

approached <strong>the</strong> UN to seek full state membership but <strong>the</strong> request stalled at<br />

<strong>the</strong> Security Council due to opposition from <strong>the</strong> veto-wielding US.<br />

In a statement issued ahead <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vote, Abbas said that <strong>the</strong><br />

Palestinians “remain committed to <strong>the</strong> two-state solution and our hand<br />

remains extended in peace”.<br />

Rival factions celebrate<br />

Ahead <strong>of</strong> Thursday’s vote, thousands <strong>of</strong> Palestinians from rival<br />

factions celebrated in <strong>the</strong> streets <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> West Bank. In a departure from<br />

previous opposition, Hamas, which rules <strong>the</strong> Gaza Strip, said it would not<br />

interfere with <strong>the</strong> bid, and its supporters joined some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> celebrations.<br />

The Palestinians say Israeli settlement-building on occupied West<br />

Bank land has hampered prospects for a bilateral statehood deal.<br />

Disagreement over <strong>the</strong> issue led to negotiations stalling in 2010.<br />

Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) executive<br />

committee member, described <strong>the</strong> bid as a “last-ditch effort”.<br />

“We believe <strong>the</strong> two-state solution is in jeopardy because <strong>of</strong> [Israeli]<br />

actions. We want to ensure that <strong>the</strong> world is still committed to <strong>the</strong><br />

establishment <strong>of</strong> a sovereign viable democratic free Palestinian state to<br />

interact as an equal,” she said on Wednesday. Read More<br />

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