Abbas asks UN for full membership for Palestine

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, gives a letter requesting UN membership to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the 66th session of the General Assembly in New York on Friday.

Despite intense lobbying against Palestine's bid for independence, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday formally asked the United Nations to recognize Palestinians as a full member state, telling the General Assembly in New York that no one "with a shred of conscience" would reject the bid.

"I come before you today from the Holy Land, the land of Palestine … to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people … to say after 63 years of suffering… enough, enough, enough," Abbas said.

"I don’t believe anyone with a shred of conscience can reject our application for a full membership in the UN and our admission as an independent state."

Abbas added "it is time for the Palestinian people to gain their freedom and independence. The time has come to end the suffering and the plight of millions of Palestinians and refugees.

"Our people will continue their popular peaceful resistance to the Israeli occupation," he said. "We want to gain legitimacy for the cause of the people of Palestine."

Abbas said the Palestinians are willing to continue to work toward peace with Israel.

"We extend our hands to the Israeli government and the Israeli people for peacemaking.… Let us urgently build together a future for our children where they can enjoy freedom, security and prosperity."