Addressing Egyptian newspaper editors, Abbas said that he has high hopes that the international recognition of a Palestinian state will have results in September.
However, he added, should the UN not come through with its promise, he will present the issue to the Palestinian leadership to take a decision.
Abbas said that unilateral declaration of statehood is out of the question because that “would be like jumping in the air and an uncalculated step.”
He also ruled out an armed intifada, explaining that popular non-violent resistance against Israeli settlements and the Wall remain an important step toward independence.
“Using weapons and shooting will destroy everything we had built,” he said. “We in Fatah had invented the armed struggle and we lost 15 of our top leaders. Yet, we became convinced in a peace process.”
Abbas denounced Israel’s settlement policies saying that he held 15 hours of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September but without result.
“In short, Netanyahu does not want peace,” he said, adding, “yet, I will not give up on efforts to end the occupation and bring peace, nor to end the division.”
He said he told Hamas that through unity the Palestinians will have a stronger position to regain their occupied land.
He said his initiative to end the division was welcomed by Arab and Islamic nations, but that he did not yet get an official response from Hamas.
He said Israel is using the division as an excuse not to go forward with peace talks.
He said Hamas should not be afraid of elections because the Palestinians had had internationally monitored and transparent elections so far.
Abbas reiterated a previous position in which he said he is not interested in running again for re-election.
