Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas renews rejection of any interim accord with Israeli enemy for Palestinian state with provisional borders

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas reiterated on Saturday his rejection of any interim accord with Israel for a Palestinian state with provisional borders.

"This project was already submitted to us and, if it is presented again, we will reject it again," Abbas said at a news conference with visiting Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. "The time has come for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders to become, in September, a permanent member of the United Nations," he said.

Sources close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said he is due to deliver a key speech in May in Washington announcing a new diplomatic bid towards the Palestinians. The initiative would stipulate a long-term "interim agreement" with the Palestinians, rather than negotiations, on a final settlement, Israeli media reported.