Abbas Returns, Hailed as Hero

Palestinians elated over UN's recognition; Israel seethes
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 2, 2012 9:30 AM CST
Abbas Returns, Hailed as Hero
Palestinians wave flags and pictures of Mahmoud Abbas as they celebrate their successful bid to win UN statehood recognition in Ramallah, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012.   (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Mahmoud Abbas returned home today to something of a rock star's welcome: Cheering crowds chanting his name and waving Palestinian flags greeted the president, who is fresh off his successful bid to have the United Nations recognize Palestine, reports al-Jazeera. "Yes, now we have a state," Abbas told crowds assembled in the West Bank. "The world has said loudly, `Yes, to the state of Palestine.'"

It's not all roses for Abbas, however: Israel announced plans for 3,000 new settlement homes mere hours after the UN vote. And the AP notes that it's following through on its threat to withhold some $100 million of revenue it collects each month on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, which Israel says owes $200 million to the Israel Electric Corporation. (More Mahmoud Abbas stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X