国际英语新闻：Abbas: Jerusalem "a first and last address for any upcoming settlement"

RAMALLAH, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed on Saturday that Jerusalem is the first and last address for any upcoming peace settlement for the Middle East conflict.

"Don't we deserve independence? Don't we deserve a state? We will keep struggling and will do so until we get them back," Abbas said as he inaugurated in Bethlehem the activities of Jerusalem, the Capital of Arab Culture for 2009.

    Abbas, who spoke in Bethlehem during the inauguration ceremony, reiterated the Palestinian leadership's stance towards the peace process, the peace talks and the necessity to unify Gaza and West Bank through reconciliation and dialogue.

Palestinian scouts perform at a parade celebrating the Arab League's designation of Jerusalem as a "capital" of Arab culture in the west bank city of Ramallah March 21,2009

    Abbas called for "defending Jerusalem and its position as the capital of the future independent Palestinian state and keeping it as an address for justice that we need on earth to stop homes demolition and displacement of its residents."

    The Palestinians want to establish an independent Palestinian state on Gaza, West Bank and consider east Jerusalem as its capital, while Israel considers the whole city as its eternal capital.

    "There will be no serious opportunity for negotiations without the immediate stop of settlements activities; otherwise the entire area will sink into a whirligig that was a result of mistrust between the two sides," said Abbas.

    Abbas also called the new upcoming Israeli government "to show seriousness towards track of peace and accept the principle of the two-state solution and all the treaties that call for ending the occupation and establishing our state."

    Abbas also slammed Israel and Islamic Hamas movement' saying "Israel banned celebrations in both Jerusalem and Nazareth while Hamas prevented celebrations in Gaza."

    An interior ministry spokesman of the deposed Hamas government Ihab al-Ghusein denied that Hamas prevented any celebration, adding that his Gaza government inaugurated the celebrations ten days ago, and the activities are still going on.

    Meanwhile, Abbas stressed that it is necessary to form a non-factional national accordance Palestinian government that be committed to what Palestine Liberation Organization is committed to.

    "We will not accept any obstacles that block the dialogue, sponsored by Egypt, in order to reach a real solution that ends the rift and achieve our goals by holding elections and turn off the page of differences," said Abbas.

    The Palestinian dialogue was stopped in Cairo two days ago, where conferees will get back to Cairo after consultations with their leaders.