This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/5369496.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Abbas vow on Israel recognition Abbas vow on Israel recognition
(about 3 hours later)
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said that any new Palestinian government would recognise Israel.Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said that any new Palestinian government would recognise Israel.
Mr Abbas told the UN General Assembly a planned national unity government would meet the demands of the "Quartet" of Middle East peace mediators.Mr Abbas told the UN General Assembly a planned national unity government would meet the demands of the "Quartet" of Middle East peace mediators.
The current Hamas-led government has refused to recognise Israel - one of the Quartet's key demands.The current Hamas-led government has refused to recognise Israel - one of the Quartet's key demands.
Earlier, Kofi Annan warned failure to resolve the Middle East conflict was damaging Security Council credibility.Earlier, Kofi Annan warned failure to resolve the Middle East conflict was damaging Security Council credibility.
'Olive branch''Olive branch'
Referring to an exchange of letters between the Palestinian and Israeli leaders in 1993, Mr Abbas said: "These two letters contain a reciprocal recognition between the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organisation] and Israel, reject violence and call for negotiations to reach a permanent settlement with the creation of an independent Palestinian state next to Israel."Referring to an exchange of letters between the Palestinian and Israeli leaders in 1993, Mr Abbas said: "These two letters contain a reciprocal recognition between the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organisation] and Israel, reject violence and call for negotiations to reach a permanent settlement with the creation of an independent Palestinian state next to Israel."
The Arab-Israeli conflict carries a powerful symbolic and emotional charge for people throughout the world Kofi AnnanUN secretary general The Palestinian Authority (PA) leader is negotiating a unity government between his Fatah faction and Hamas, who swept to victory in March, leading to a suspension of Western aid.The Arab-Israeli conflict carries a powerful symbolic and emotional charge for people throughout the world Kofi AnnanUN secretary general The Palestinian Authority (PA) leader is negotiating a unity government between his Fatah faction and Hamas, who swept to victory in March, leading to a suspension of Western aid.
Echoing former PA leader Yasser Arafat address to the UN in 1974, Mr Abbas said that this moment represented an olive branch of opportunity.Echoing former PA leader Yasser Arafat address to the UN in 1974, Mr Abbas said that this moment represented an olive branch of opportunity.
"I come to you bearing the wounds of a people who seek to live a normal life... not be victims of the cruelty of history."I come to you bearing the wounds of a people who seek to live a normal life... not be victims of the cruelty of history.
"I simply want tomorrow to be better than today. I want Palestine to be independent and sovereign... Do not the olive branch fall from my hand." "I simply want tomorrow to be better than today. I want Palestine to be independent and sovereign... Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."
His comments came as the Security Council met to discuss the Middle East conflict in a bid to get the peace process back on track.His comments came as the Security Council met to discuss the Middle East conflict in a bid to get the peace process back on track.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told the assembled ministers that peace between a new Palestinian state and a secure Israel remained distant and ill-defined.UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told the assembled ministers that peace between a new Palestinian state and a secure Israel remained distant and ill-defined.
"Like no other conflict, the Arab-Israeli conflict carries a powerful symbolic and emotional charge for people throughout the world," Mr Annan said."Like no other conflict, the Arab-Israeli conflict carries a powerful symbolic and emotional charge for people throughout the world," Mr Annan said.
"And our continued failure to resolve this conflict calls into question the legitimacy and the effectiveness of this council itself.""And our continued failure to resolve this conflict calls into question the legitimacy and the effectiveness of this council itself."
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says this special Security Council meeting could mark a significant moment in the quest for peace in the Middle East.The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says this special Security Council meeting could mark a significant moment in the quest for peace in the Middle East.
Against a backdrop of what almost every observer notes is a bleak diplomatic landscape in the region, this debate does at least mark a renewed collective effort by the Arab world to get the peace process back on track, he says.Against a backdrop of what almost every observer notes is a bleak diplomatic landscape in the region, this debate does at least mark a renewed collective effort by the Arab world to get the peace process back on track, he says.