Abbas Announces Plans for ‘State of Palestine’ Passports

Australia’s B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) has labelled the vote by The Greek parliament urging the Greek government to recognise the state of Palestine as premature and counterproductive.

Tsipras’ government is trying to balance improved relations with Israel with his party’s longstanding support for a Palestinian state.

In comments made before the decision, Abbas in a reception hosted by the president of the House, Nikos Voutsis, expressed his appreciation for the recognition.

“The Palestinians and Abu Mazen continue to choose the unilateral path to obtain recognition which has no meaning in practice”, said deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely, using another name for Abbas.

Mahmoud Abbas arrived in the Greek capital on Sunday and will meet with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday and is expected to address the Greek Parliament. He said that global intervention is “desperately needed to protect the Palestinians”.

However he added that Greece would “judge the right time” for recognising a state of Palestine, taking into account its “brotherly relations with the Arab people and ties of cooperation with Israel”.

Palestine’s flag was hoisted for the first time at United Nations headquarters in NY on September 30 in a symbolic gesture.

Also late November South African President Jacob Zuma indicated that it was urgent for the world support the Palestinian cause-push for a two-state solution where Palestinians and Israelis will live side by side before adding that the Palestinian cause was main reason for terror in the region and around the world. As Australia, and most of the global community have acknowledged, Palestinian statehood can only be realised within the setting of genuine dialogue and meaningful negotiations.