Situation under Israeli occupation "unbearable": Palestinian president

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday the situation in the Palestinian territories amid the Israeli occupation "is unbearable and cannot continue for a long time."

Abbas made the remarks at a joint press conference with Governor General of Canada David Johnston after a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The Palestinian president stressed readiness to "create peace with Israel and implement a two-state solution, whereby the Palestinian and Israelis can live side by side in security, peace and neighborly relations, in line with the international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative."

He called for empowering the Palestinian people "to achieve their freedom on an independent state within the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital."

Abbas also reiterated his support for an international peace conference which France is seeking to hold by the end of this year, expressing his trust that Canada "will have a positive and supporting role in this framework."

He also renewed his support for international and regional effort exerted to combat and diminish the roots of terrorism, extremism and violence in the region and the world, which "we condemn, regardless of its nature and source."

For his part, the governor general of Canada asserted his country's support for the two-state solution and the realization of peace in the region.

Canada is committed to working with its Palestinian friends to support and build the Palestinian institutions, Johnston said. Endit