Palestinians change their name following UN bid... Abbas instructs embassies to refer to State of Palestine

Palestinians change their name following UN bid

http://news.yahoo.com/palestinians-change-name-following-un-bid-151559216.html

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian president has ordered his government to officially change the name of the Palestinian Authority to "State of Palestine."

The move follows the November decision by the United Nations to upgrade the Palestinians' status to that of a "non-member observer state."

President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that all official Palestinian stamps, stationery and documents will now bear the new name.

A statement from his office said the move was aimed at enhancing Palestinian "sovereignty on the ground" and was a step on the way to "real independence." Israel still controls most of the West Bank.

Israel objected to the Palestinian statehood bid at the U.N., calling it a unilateral step aimed at bypassing direct peace negotiations. Abbas denied that.

Israel had no comment Sunday.

Abbas instructs embassies to refer to State of Palestine

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=553741
06/01/2013 10:05

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday issued instructions to Palestinian embassies around the world to change all references to the Palestinian Authority to State of Palestine after the UN vote in November.

Palestine was voted in as a non-member state by the UN General Assembly on Nov. 29, 2012.

No amendment should be made to references to the PLO, which remains Palestinians' legal representative on the world stage, the presidential order said.