RAMALLAH, February 14, 2011 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Monday said he called for elections with a goal to maintain national unity.

The Palestine Liberation Organization decided Saturday to hold presidential and legislative elections on a date not later than September.

Abbas said during ceremonies marking the birth of Prophet Mohammad held in Ramallah that “we called for national elections to maintain national unity.”

He stressed that national unity is the base for establishing the state of Palestine in both Gaza and the West Bank.

“The Palestinian state will not be established without East Jerusalem as its capital and a fair solution to refugees’ problem based on (United Nations General Assembly) resolution 194,” he said.

“No peace with the occupation and settlements,” he said, refusing to resume negotiations before Israel stops settlement activities. He said he will not accept a state with provisional boarders.

Abbas added that the occupation is coming to an end, praising the long Palestinian struggle towards an independent and free state despite Israeli intransigence and refusal to acknowledge international terms in order to resume the stalled peace process.

“Israel must withdraw from the occupied Palestinian Territory, which the world community considers to be the Gaza strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Jordan river basin, the Dead Sea, and al-Haram al-Sharif (Al-Aqsa Mosque compound),” Abbas said.

He insisted that negotiations must be on clear and specific terms recognized by all parties, and that settlement activities must stop.

Abbas wished success to the people of Tunisia and Egypt, stressing that the recent events reflect the will of the people and their right to self-determination.

M.H./RQ/F.R.