Bethlehem – Ma’an – President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that "there is no possibility of establishing a Palestinian state while settlements continue," emphasizing, at the same time, that the Palestinian leadership had not abandoned the national objective of establishing a state on the 1967 borders.

During his visit to Bethlehem on Sunday, President Abbas noted that he “did not set the preconditions to resuming negotiations with Israel. These are the conditions of the Road Map that urges Israel to halt settlements, dismantling all of the settlements that are built on lands of the West Bank in order to establish a Palestinian state.”

The president further remarked that the Palestinians were committed to implementing the requirements of the Road Map while Israel neither dismantled illegal settlements nor brought about a halt to settlement growth; rather they increased settlement activity in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Abbas expressed the eagerness of the Palestinian leadership to bring about reconciliation with Hamas under Egyptian sponsorship, stating that “we accepted the Egyptian proposal but unfortunately Hamas does not want conciliation and wants to cling to Gaza state forever.”

He further observed that “the unity of the homeland is the biggest gain for the Palestinians,” adding that Hamas had rejected the Egyptian proposal for reconciliation whilst accusing Fatah of rejecting national unity.

President Abbas urged the Palestinian people to maintain their belief in achieving peace, security and safety to realize the development of the country.

Crowds urge Abbas to reverse retirement decision

Earlier, thousands of Palestinians took to the streets of the southern West Bank town of Halhul to urge Abbas to reverse a decision to drop out of upcoming elections.

Waving Fatah and Palestinian flags, well-wishers lined the main road as Abbas’ motorcade of black SUVs rolled into the community just north of Hebron, the West Bank’s most populous city.

Locals offered Abbas a variety of customary gifts, including grapes and a traditional gown, whilst women trilled cries of praise for the president.

Abbas’ visit to Hebron formed the first part of his tour of the West Bank. He will also visit Bethlehem on Sunday.

Since Abbas' announcement on Thursday that he has "no desire" to stand for re-nomination in the forthcoming elections in January, Palestinians, particularly Fatah supporters, have participated in a number of demonstrations across the West Bank, imploring the president to reconsider his decision.

With no apparent willing successor in his Fatah party, few expect Abbas to step down any time soon. Analysts said Abbas’ decision was intended to convince his backers in the US government to place more pressure on Israel to take steps conducive to renewing peace talks, including halting the expansion of Israeli settlements.

Peres: US, Israel "upset" with Abbas

On Saturday Israel’s President Shimon Peres said that said Israel and the US were "upset" at Abbas’ stated decision.

"Everyone upset Abbas, including Israel and the Americans. That is why he is angry. We must resume negotiations immediately, to keep us in the picture," Peres told the Israeli news website Ynet on Saturday night during a ceremony in Tel Aviv marking the 14th anniversary of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

According to Peres, Abbas' decision was affected by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks last week backing the Israeli view that a settlement freeze should not be a prerequisite for resumed peacemaking.

"It seems as though everyone unjustifiably 'pelted Abbas with stones'," Peres added, "Now we must find a way to resolve this crisis."