Abbas Blames Israel For Impasse, Urges U.S. Pressures

Abbas heaped blame on Israel for the current deteriorating situation in the occupied territories.

"I don’t believe there’s anybody in the world that doesn’t share my opinion that it is the Israeli side who takes the responsibility for where we are today," he told a key meeting of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Israel launched a series of deadly air strike against Palestinian activists after being embarrassed by criticism from U.S. President George W. Bush over the building of a separation wall in the West Bank, Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Abbas as stressing.

"This put the Israeli government in an embarrassing position and then they resumed assassinations in (the West Bank towns of) Nablus and Al-Khalil and in effect destroyed the truce."