Abbas condemns 'catastrophic' Israeli settlements

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas condemned on Thursday "catastrophic" Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, which he said were killing hopes for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict. In his speech to the UN General Assembly, Abbas also demanded a UN resolution that would serve as a basis to end the deadlock in talks between Israel and the Palestinians. "Developments over the past year have confirmed what we have persistently drawn attention to and warned of: the catastrophic danger of the racist Israeli settlement of our country, Palestine," he said, noting "attacks by terrorist militias of Israeli settlers." "We are facing relentless waves of attacks against our people, our mosques, churches and monasteries, and our homes and schools," he said. "They are unleashing their venom against our trees, fields, crops and properties, and our people have become fixed targets for acts of killing and abuse with the complete collusion of the occupying forces and the Israeli government." Abbas also called on the Security Council to "urgently adopt a resolution comprising the basis and foundations for a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that would serve as a binding reference and guide for all." According to the Palestinian leader, this is crucial "if the vision of two-states, Israel and Palestine, is to survive and if peace is to prevail in the land of peace."