Steinitz blasts statehood bid

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said while Israel is unquestionably opposed to the Palestinian statehood bid, no one can stop Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from petitioning the United Nations. This is a Palestinian attempt to get a state without giving anything to Israel in return, without peace, without security, and without giving up on the demand to return Palestinian refugees to Israel, Steinitz said. Jordan's King Abdullah advised Abbas to reconsider the statehood bid next month. He warned Abbas that declaring Palestinian statehood could jeopardize the right of return of the Palestinian refugees. Abbas opted to ignore the warnings and said he intended to pursue the statehood bid next month. Once the Palestinian state is recognized its legal status will change Abbas said. When the Palestinians gain an independent state they will demand the return of some 5 million Palestinian refugees to their original homes inside Israel, he said.