Abbas reiterates support for two-state solution at Chile conference

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his commitment to the two state solution with Israel on Wednesday during a press conference in Chile.

In a joint conference with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, Abbas noted that the Palestinian government is seeking further negotiations based on international resolutions and a two-state solution along the 1967 borders according to Palestinian Authority official news agency WAFA.

He also reiterated his respect for the Jewish faith just days after sparking fury with comments widely viewed as being anti-Semitic.

"I am at the same time [as condemning the Holocaust] still looking forward to the day when the suffering of the six million Palestinians who have been living for 70 years as refugees in many countries across the world, would end in accordance with the Arab peace initiative, and the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194, in order to achieve peace, security, and stability in the region," he said, referring to the two-state solution road map.

Last week, Abbas was forced to apologise for anti-Semitic comments he made which caused outrage among Palestinians and across the world.

"If people were offended by my statement in front of the PNC, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologise to them," Abbas, whose term of office expired in 2009, said in a statement.

Sixty-seven percent of Palestinians demand Abbas' resignation... with the figure standing at 80 percent in the Gaza Strip.

"I would like to assure everyone that it was not my intention to do so, and to reiterate my full respect for the Jewish faith, as well as other monotheistic faiths."

During his lengthy speech in a Palestinian National Council (PNA) meeting, the Palestinian leader sparked fury as he claimed that the economic status of Jews in Europe in the 20th century provoked the Holocaust.

Abbas' remains a deeply divisive figure in Palestinian politics.

A majority of Palestinians want Abbas to resign, while over half of the Palestinian public fear publicly criticising the Palestinian Authority, a poll conducted late last year found.

The survey was carried out across the West Bank and Gaza Strip from 14 to 16 September by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR).

Sixty-seven percent of Palestinians demand Abbas' resignation, according to the poll, with the figure standing at 80 percent in the Gaza Strip.