President Mahmoud Abbas said in his speech at the 24th Arab summit in Doha that the Palestinian Authority seeks to implement a United Nations decision admitting a Palestinian state.

Abbas warned about Israeli actions in Jerusalem that attempt to make the city Jewish and damage its Islamic and Christian sites. He also called for a stronger Islamic and Arab stand against such Israeli endeavors.

The president call for media and political support to “save” Palestinian prisoners: “the prisoners are being subjected to dangerous violations, especially those on hunger strike,” he said.

“It is our duty to attempt to free them and save their lives”.

Abbas indicated that the Palestinian people are being collectively punished since September 2011, because they opted to seek statehood in the United Nations.

He claimed that going to the UN aimed to preserve our rights in having a state at 1967 borders and denied that the land is a disputed land, asserting that all areas in the 1967 borders are occupied Palestinian territories including Jerusalem, should be evacuated.

Abbas said that Israel withholding PA tax returns has led to budget deficit including failure in paying its employees salaries. He requested that Arabs support the Palestinian people until the Palestinians are able to stand on their own.

He urged Arab nations to contribute to a fund for support Palestinians in Jerusalem which was started in an initiative by Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.

The president added that the PA was committed to its responsibilities in Gaza despite the political issues, and it has continued to pay $130 million in salaries and services in Gaza.

Abbas also welcomed the Qatari emir’s call for a small summit led by Egypt to help reconciliation.

(Ma’an – Maannews.net)