President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday he would resume efforts to achieve international recognition of Palestine should US Secretary of State John Kerry fail to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, according to dpa. Abbas said last year's decisions granting Palestine observer status at the United Nations and membership of UNESCO were only the beginning. "These steps will be followed by more steps," Abbas told a conference in Ramallah. There are 63 international organizations, he noted. "We have the right to join them." In a bid to resuscitate the moribund peace process, Kerry has reportedly asked Israel to curb construction in its West Bank settlements and the Palestinians to shelve their applications for membership of international bodies such as the International Criminal Court. Although neither party has commented publicly on Kerry's request, local reports say both have promised to do so until June 7. Kerry, however, has asked for an extension, the reports say, urging the sides to avoid "unilateral actions" at least until the end of the month.
