RAMALLAH – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas returned to the West Bank Sunday after winning upgraded UN status for the Palestinians, telling cheering crowds: “Yes, now we have a state.” “Palestine has accomplished a historic achievement at the UN,” Abbas added, three days after the United Nations General Assembly granted the Palestinians non-member state observer status in a 138-9 vote. “The world said in a loud voice... yes to the state of Palestine, yes to Palestine's freedom, yes to Palestine's independence, no to aggression, no to settlements, no to occupation,” Abbas told the ecstatic crowd. Abbas pledged that after the victory at the United Nations, his “first and most important” task would be working to achieve Palestinian unity and reviving efforts to reconcile rival factions Fatah and Hamas. “We will study over the course of the coming days the steps necessary to achieve reconciliation,” he said, as the crowd chanted “The people want the end of the division.” Abbas was received with a full honor guard, descending from his car to walk along a red carpet at the Ramallah presidential headquarters known as the Muqataa, where he shook hands with waiting dignitaries. He laid a wreath at the grave of the iconic late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who is buried within the presidential complex, later dedicating the UN victory to the former president's memory. Abbas called the approval a milestone in Palestinian history, saying it was the achievement of Palestinians everywhere. “Our people everywhere, raise your heads up high because you are Palestinians,” he said. “You are stronger than the occupation... because you are Palestinians. You are stronger than the settlements because you are Palestinians,” he added. “You are making history and Palestine will be drawn on the map very soon.” Abbas's return drew supporters from across the West Bank, including Bajis Bani Fadl, from the northern town of Nablus. “I came to celebrate this day because the Palestinian leadership accomplished a great achievement.” – Agencies
