Abbas against 'even one concession' in Washington-brokered peace talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hosting a U.S. congressional delegation in Jerusalem on Monday, implored Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas not to abandon Washington-brokered peace talks following threats Abbas made to leave the process.

Abbas told Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds while visiting Libya, "I'll grab my briefcase and leave" if he's pressured to make concessions, namely on 1967 borders, refugees and other issues.

"I will not be pressured into signing anything or taking even one concession with relation to all the aggressive attitudes around me," Abbas was quoted by the newspaper Monday.

"The issues are clear. It is true that we are entering negotiations, but we will not digress from our position on certain issues," Abbas said.

"The borders issue, which will be discussed in the coming days, will determine many other issues related to the negotiations with Israel," he added.

Abbas also said he refuses to discuss the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.

"Israel can call itself what it likes," Abbas told the East Jerusalem-based newspaper.

Netanyahu, hosting a delegation of Democrats at his office on Monday, called on Abbas to not give up on the peace negotiations, according to Israeli media outlets. The two leaders met in Washington last week for the first round of talks and are set to talk Sept. 14 in Egypt with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The Palestinians already have warned negotiations might not extend far past that if Israel continues new construction in the West Bank. A 10-month Israeli settlement freeze in the West Bank is set to expire Sept. 26. Netanyahu and his cabinet could choose to extend the moratorium or let it expire.