Palestinians reject Netanyahu’s invitation for Abbas speech

the invitation as a “new gimmick” designed to mask what they described as Israel’s intransigence on moving forward with the Mideast peace process.

Netanyahu addressed the world body moments after Abbas delivered his own speech. Both presented sharply different views of the path toward reviving peace talks that have been stalled for more than two years.

“I am ready to negotiate all final status, but one thing I will never negotiate is the right to a one and only Jewish state,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu rejects a settlement freeze, rejects the 1967 borders as the basis for talks and rejects any division of Jerusalem. He has also said he would not uproot settlements.

Slamming Israel’s “abhorrent” settlement policy, Abbas demanded the United Nations take a bigger role in the effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As the 50th anniversary of Israel’s occupation approaches in June, Abbas urged the 193-member General Assembly to declare 2017 “the international year to end the Israeli occupation of our land and our people.”

He called on the Security Council to take up a resolution on the settlements, adding, in a clear reference to the United States, “we hope no one will cast a veto.”

Netanyahu rejected the idea of greater U.N. involvement in the peace process.

“The road to peace runs through Jerusalem and Ramallah, not through New York,” he said.