Abbas won't seek re-election (2nd Roundup)

Ramallah - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday he will not seek a second term of office in elections scheduled for January 24. 'This is not debatable,' he said in a television address hours after he informed the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee of his intention. The 74-year-old leader said he hoped the executive committee would respect his decision. Speaking from his Ramallah headquarters, Abbas said that he has informed the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee and his Fatah party's Central Committee that he is 'not interested in running for election,' urging them 'to understand my wish.' He said his decision was not 'a manoeuvre, nor a tactic,' adding that 'there are other steps I intend to take which I will announce in time.' Abbas has faced several setbacks in recent months, the most serious being US backtracking on its call to Israel to halt settlement construction in order to re-launch the peace process suspended since December. In his speech Abbas made no attempt to hide his disappointment at the US position and the lack of progress in the peace process. He said delays had been going on 'month after month, and year after year, stalling, delaying and an increase in Israeli settlement activities began to undermine the credibility of the negotiations.' He said that while he stood by the demand of the international community from his Islamist rival Hamas to honour signed agreements and accept the road map peace plan, he wondered 'how come the international community agrees to ask less than that from the current Israeli government?' Abbas said that he appreciated the role the US has played in the Oslo agreement under Bill Clinton and in the two-state vision of George W Bush, and lately Barack Obama's call for a total halt to settlement activities and a time line solution to the conflict. His announcement came days after a visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who told reporters Thursday that Abbas' political future was among the topics of discussion. 'He described in great detail the challenges that he faces,' Clinton said, adding the United States will continue to work with Abbas for peace regardless of the position he holds. Abbas addressed the Israeli government and people saying 'peace is more important than any political gain by any party, and peace is more important than any government coalition if the result is to lead the region to the abyss or the unknown.' 'I still believe that reaching the two-state solution, Palestine and Israel living side by side, is possible,' he said. 'But in light of the recent dangers, the two-state solution is facing grave consequences and we do not know where it will be taking it.' Earlier, executive committee member Yaser Abed Rabbo said Abbas 'is not only Fatah's choice for president, he is also the PLO's choice and the choice of the Palestinian people everywhere.' Abbas is head of Fatah movement, the largest Palestinian political faction. He is also PLO chairman. Abed Rabbo said Abbas was needed at this time to continue the political process. He added that the PLO backs Abbas' decision not to resume negotiations before Israel halts all settlement construction.