Abbas hails ‘specific timeframe’ in UN resolution on Israeli pullout from Palestinian territories

NEW YORK — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas hails UN member states for backing a resolution this month demanding an Israeli withdrawal from the territories within a year and recognized the International Court of Justice advisory opinion that similarly called for such a withdrawal.

“For the very first time, there is a specific time frame,” Abbas boasts in his address to the UN General Assembly.

“We demand the implementation of this particular requirement, including an immediate cessation of annexation and settlement activities, dismantling of existing settlements, and evacuating settlers from Palestinian territory,” he adds.

“There are 600,000 settlers,” Abbas continues, referring to Israelis living in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. “They’re there living on our land. Why don’t they go back to their homes?”