Mahmoud Abbas pledges to continue security co-ordination with Israel

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has pledged to continue security co-ordination with Israel, despite recent US funding cuts to Palestinian security forces and years of impasse in the peace process.

President Abbas told a gathering of Palestinian and Israeli activists on Wednesday that his government has counter-terrorism agreements with nearly 100 countries, includingIsrael.

He says the West Bank government has a “joint agreement to fight terrorism” withIsrael, and “will not violate it” – because if it does, “nothing will remain”.

He added his hopes that a party committed to peace would succeed in the upcoming Israeli elections.

The US cut all aid to the Palestinian Authority, including $61 million (£47 million) in security assistance, when an anti-terrorism law took effect last week.

The forces are considered crucial for Palestinian and Israeli safety.