His remarks came in response to several European nations announcing their decision to recognise a Palestinian state during a summit at the UNGA on Monday. While the move was largely symbolic, it added to Israel's diplomatic isolation. Washington, however, has made clear it does not support the step.
As per the results of the election announced on Monday, Abbas, a former prime minister, has won over 62 per cent of the votes that were polled.
Palestinian and Israeli leaders met in Washington under the United States-brokered direct peace talks after 20 months hiatus, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressing them to forget the long history of failed parleys and overcome "suspicion and skepticism".
Prime Minister Ismail Haniya's Hamas-led government stepped down to start the constitutional process of forming a 'national union' with rival Fatah movement and President Mahmud Abbas charged him with forming the new cabinet.
President will lead a five-member delegation to the memorial service.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday threatened the Palestinians with unilateral steps over their renewed statehood bid and asserted that Israel will not seek a peace deal "at any price".
'But unlike Bond who killed an individual, Israel is killing a nation.'
Israel and the Palestinians on Tuesday agreed on a long-term Egyptian-brokered ceasefire to end the devastating 50-day war in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that has killed over 2,200 people.
World leaders said they were looking forward to working with Joe Biden, as they welcomed the 46th President of the United States with praise and took parting shots at his predecessor Donald Trump.
President Pranab Mukherjee will be among over 90 heads of state and government who will attend an emotional memorial service in South Africa on Tuesday for anti-apartheid legend Nelson Mandela, making it one of the largest such gatherings in generations.
It is for the first time in the history of Independent India that not a single Muslim is part of the Union Cabinet.
Stepping up its offensive, Israeli forces on Wednesday hit about 200 targets in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip killing at least 17 people, triggering a retaliation from the Palestinian group which fired a barrage of rockets deep into the Jewish state in the bloodiest conflict since 2012.
Bloodbath in Gaza continued unabated today with Israel and Hamas refusing to back down in the conflict that has killed over 660 Palestinians and 31 Israelis, even as US Secretary of State John Kerry said his ceasefire negotiations in Jerusalem were making progress.
No one has taken responsibility for the attack.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud "bang" from inside the venue.
AMU has once again been pulled into a crossfire of crass political opportunism. In these post-truth times, that the university also had political stirrings not subscribing to the Muslim League is chosen to be forgotten, says Mohammad Sajjad.
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