Israel and Mahmoud Abbas

Mahmoud Abbas: The statements by President Mahmoud Abbas suggested new flexibility on the right of return, the demand by hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced in the war surrounding Israels creation in 1948, and their descendants, to return to lost properties in the Jewish state, according to The Star. But speaking to some 300 young Israelis who visited his West Bank headquarters, Abbas said he is seeking a creative solution for the refugees, suggesting he is not demanding a blanket right of return and The Palestinian president told hundreds of young Israeli activists on Sunday that he does not want to drown Israel with Palestinian refugees, in his most conciliatory comments to date on one of the thorniest issues in Mideast peace talks. Today, the refugees and their descendants are believed to number about 5 million people. In Israel, there is broad consensus against accepting a large-scale resettling of these refugees in any future peace deal with the Palestinians, saying it would dilute the Jewish character of Israel, a country of just 8 million people. Israeli officials believe the refugees should be resettled in a future Palestinian state or offered some sort of compensation. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.