Abbas tells Europeans: Time to recognize Palestine

STRASBOURG, France — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is urging European countries that have expressed past willingness to recognize a Palestinian state that "there is no time more appropriate than now."

Abbas addressed the parliamentary assembly of the 47-member Council of Europe on Thursday after appealing last month for United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state -- opposed by the United States and Israel.

The assembly has urged its six members with Security Council seats -- France, Russia, Britain, Germany, Portugal, and Bosnia and Herzegovina -- to support the Palestinian bid.

In Strasbourg, Abbas hailed that appeal and noted some European nations, which he did not identify, have said they would recognize a Palestinian state "at the appropriate time."

CTV News