“While the Israeli government pays lip service to the two-state solution internationally, domestically it employs policies aimed at destroying what’s left of Palestine,” writes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “World leaders must find the political will to uphold the rule of law, respect human rights and make good on the commitments they collectively made to the Palestinian people over decades.”

“Yes, this is a symbolic step,” writes Palestinian former chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. “These symbolic steps build upon other steps, which aim to consolidate the fact that Palestine exists.”

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has circulated a hard-hitting critique of alleged Israeli violations of the 20-year-old Oslo accords and subsequent agreements ahead of his speech to the UN general assembly in New York later on Wednesday.

25 percent of Palestinians live in poverty, and 60 percent of youth in Gaza are unemployed, World Bank says in new report, which warns of high risk of further violence.

“He chose the path of moderation. He agreed to a small Palestinian state alongside Israel. He won the support of America and Europe. He proved his obligation to maintaining security for Israelis. And he got nothing in return,” writes Menachem Klein

The Obama administration is not keen on a summit meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas, fearing that without proper preparations, it could upset the already fragile situation.

“Despite growing tensions with Israel, Palestinians must decide whether to preserve the fragile rule of order and security in the West Bank or launch a third intifada,” writes Shlomi Eldar.

Official data released by the Israeli authorities indicate that over 11,000 demolition orders – affecting an estimated 13,000 Palestinian-owned structures, including homes – are currently ‘outstanding’ in Area C of the West Bank.

“World leaders converging on the UN General Assembly will soon be hearing from Palestine’s Mahmoud Abbas and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu. They should focus on Jerusalem, which is again at a boiling point and has the potential to be a global flashpoint if international leaders and diplomats fail to address increasingly reckless rhetoric from Israeli government leaders and the provocative actions of Israeli settlers,” writes Nur Arafeh.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Egyptian president claims that establishing a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders would remove a central factor in regional instability.

“The thinking behind Israel relaxing the rules of engagement against Palestinians throwing stones is a double-edged sword,” writes Akiva Eldar.

Clashes have consumed large parts of the West Bank as Israel places strict age restrictions on the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“Israel’s new police chief, Roni Alsheich, joins a long list of senior appointments in politics, in the government, in the defense establishment and in the media of people who were raised in the Religious Zionism movement, controlling the direction of Israel,” writes Yoaz Hendel.