Following is an excerpt from a speech delivered by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on April 27, 2009.

Mahmoud Abbas: What Jewish state? We call it the state of Israel. You can call it whatever you like, but I do not accept this, and I am saying this live on TV.

What is strange is that this [claim] was made at Annapolis, and we discussed it at length. I said it was not my business to characterize this state. You can call yourselves the Great Zionist, Hebrew, National Socialist Republic. Call it whatever you like. It is not my concern. Call it what you want, but for me, there is the state of Israel, within the 1967 borders – not an inch more, nor an inch less. I do not accept anything beyond this.