RAMALLAH, January 21, 2016 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday told Israeli press the reason Palestinians headed to the United Nations was that doors to peace were closed.

Abbas told Israeli press during a meeting at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah that the Palestinian Authority continues to seek a just and comprehensive peace through negotiations based on international resolutions to establish a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within the 1967 borders.

He said PA supports non-violent popular resistance and is against all forms of extremism. Abbas also warned against turning the conflict from political into religious one.

Abbas stressed the importance of holding an international peace conference as agreed on in the Annapolis conference and affirmed that settlement activities are illegal.

Providing protection to the Palestinian people is vital to reach a final solution and be able to protect them from the reoccurring Israeli violations.

M.H