UN \'must deem Palestine occupied territory\'

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said the Palestinian Authority (PA), which he leads, is committed to establishing international recognition of Palestine as an occupied territory and not a disputed land by the United Nations. President Abbas said during a speech at Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz al-Najah theatre at the An-Najah National University in Nablus, int he northern part of the West Bank: "We are trying all peaceful means to reach a solution. Israel did not halt settlement construction and did not recognise 1967 borders. We have no choice but to go to the United Nations, supported by a strong Arab position. We will soon announce the date of our UN bid.” The president added: "We will not leave our country and will not repeat our mistakes in 1948 and in 1967. We are going to face all pressures till we establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital." President Abbas stated that the only solution to the division was to hold presidential, legislative and National Council elections, adding: "As we are democratic people, we decided to hold municipal elections on October 20 this year. We make every effort to elect people able to serve their country and their villages and camps and to develop them whatever their political affiliation." On the situation in Syria, the president emphasised: “We do not interfere in internal Arab affairs. This is our position despite some who are trying to drag us into the crisis. The Syrian people have always supported the Palestinian issue and we hope the situation in Syria will be solved soon." "We have given aid to the Palestinians and Syrians in Syria, on behalf of the Palestinian people," Abbas revealed. As for a recent attack by suspected Islamist in Egypt's Sinai peninsula that killed 16 soldiers, Abbas said: "This is a crime and we condemn these acts. I personally contacted President Mohammed Morsi and offered him condolences. We decided to fly the Palestinian flag half-mast for a day to mourn the martyrs. Egypt has been helping the Palestinian cause for decades." Abbas said he was proud that An-Najah National University was ranked the best Palestinian university and the sixth best among Arab universities despite all the obstacles and the occupation, saying it was "a source of pride for all Palestinian people". The president  praised the high-ranking students in Nablus and wished them luck and success, describing them as "real assets to Palestine". Abbas had breakfast with 350 orphans in Nablus in addition to 50 people with special needs and 50 prominent students in high school in addition to more than 100 legal and official  figures in Nablus. He also visited the Rafidia region in west Nablus where he ate dessert and walked in the streets where hundreds of citizens gathered around him. Nablus Governor Major General Jibreen al-Bakri said he was happy that President Abbas visited the city, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. "Nablus  is recovering again and will restore it position as the economical capital of Palestine," he said. Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas has recently visited Jenin and Hebron as part of a nationwide tour, and ate Iftar (the meal where Muslims break their Ramadan fast) in Ramallah with a group of disabled and elderly Palestinians.