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Netanyahu "had a choice between peace and settlements, and unfortunately, he chose the settlements," Abbas said on a visit to Santiago.
In a joint declaration with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Abbas reaffirmed on Wednesday "the pressing need for Israel to cease illegal settlements in the Palestinian territories."
The Palestinian Authority, which rules the West Bank, but not the Gaza Strip -- controlled by the Islamist movement Hamas since it ousted forces loyal to Abbas in June 2007 -- is ready to renew talks with Israel based on a two-state solution if it does, the Palestinian leader said.
Peace talks have been on hold for nearly a year and remain stalled over Israel's refusal to halt settlement construction.
"Israel has a historic occasion to take the initiative today, not tomorrow," Abbas said in Arabic in comments translated into Spanish by an interpreter.
"If we get peace, we will have peace for the entire region and perhaps for the entire world."
Netanyahu's move Wednesday was praised by the United States as a step toward relaunching the peace process, but the Palestinians said it fell far short of their demand for a complete settlement freeze ahead of any new negotiations.
The Palestinians hope to make east Jerusalem -- which Israel occupied and annexed following the 1967 Six-Day War in a move not recognized by the international community -- the capital of their future state.
Abbas was on a regional tour of Latin America that took him to Brazil and Argentina a week after Israeli President Shimon Peres visited those two countries. After Chile, Abbas was set to travel to Paraguay and Venezuela.
In Caracas, he was to lay a wreath at the tomb of Venezuelan hero Simon Bolivar and meet with Arab ambassadors before holding his first talks with staunch Palestinian supporter President Hugo Chavez at the presidential palace.
He was expected to arrive in Venezuela late Thursday and leave Saturday.
Following Israel's devastating military offensive in Gaza that ended in January, Chavez broke off ties with the Jewish state, calling it a "genocidal state" before opening a Palestinian diplomatic mission in Caracas.
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Image: AFP/Gali Tibbon.
In a joint declaration with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Abbas reaffirmed on Wednesday "the pressing need for Israel to cease illegal settlements in the Palestinian territories."
The Palestinian Authority, which rules the West Bank, but not the Gaza Strip -- controlled by the Islamist movement Hamas since it ousted forces loyal to Abbas in June 2007 -- is ready to renew talks with Israel based on a two-state solution if it does, the Palestinian leader said.
Peace talks have been on hold for nearly a year and remain stalled over Israel's refusal to halt settlement construction.
"Israel has a historic occasion to take the initiative today, not tomorrow," Abbas said in Arabic in comments translated into Spanish by an interpreter.
"If we get peace, we will have peace for the entire region and perhaps for the entire world."
Netanyahu's move Wednesday was praised by the United States as a step toward relaunching the peace process, but the Palestinians said it fell far short of their demand for a complete settlement freeze ahead of any new negotiations.
The Palestinians hope to make east Jerusalem -- which Israel occupied and annexed following the 1967 Six-Day War in a move not recognized by the international community -- the capital of their future state.
Abbas was on a regional tour of Latin America that took him to Brazil and Argentina a week after Israeli President Shimon Peres visited those two countries. After Chile, Abbas was set to travel to Paraguay and Venezuela.
In Caracas, he was to lay a wreath at the tomb of Venezuelan hero Simon Bolivar and meet with Arab ambassadors before holding his first talks with staunch Palestinian supporter President Hugo Chavez at the presidential palace.
He was expected to arrive in Venezuela late Thursday and leave Saturday.
Following Israel's devastating military offensive in Gaza that ended in January, Chavez broke off ties with the Jewish state, calling it a "genocidal state" before opening a Palestinian diplomatic mission in Caracas.
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Image: AFP/Gali Tibbon.
