Abbas resorts to international powers to end Israeli offensive

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday resorted to international powers to pressurize Israel to end its offensive against the Gaza strip, said a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee.

Saleh Ra'fat told reporters that President Abbas has asked the Mideast peace Quartet, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and representatives of Western nations to end the Israeli offensive.

"Abbas held urgent contacts in an effort to prevent Israel from continuing its aggression against the Palestinian people and halt its operation of "Summer Rain" which will bring only losses for both sides," Ra'fat said.

He added that "President Abbas seeks to handle the issue of the abducted Israeli soldier through peaceful means and mediations."

Israel launched the operation of "Summer Rain" early Wednesday after two days of unfruitful international mediation over the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Palestinian militants in an attack on a military position near the Gaza border Sunday morning.

On Tuesday, Palestinian factions, except the Islamic Jihad ( Holy War), agreed on a plan that calls for two-state solution and reduces the Palestinian resistance against Israel to the occupied territories only.

"That agreement would enable us drawing a plan to politically face the Israeli aggression," said Ra'fat.

Source: Xinhua