RAMALLAH - President Abbas said Sunday that the Palestinian request for non-member status in the United Nations aims to protect the peace process and preserve the two state solution, official news agency Wafa reported.

Abbas made the comments during a speech at the fourth annual Yasser Arafat festival in Ramallah.

"We are committed to our people’s inalienable rights that we will never waive in spite of any pressure," Abbas said, calling on the Israeli government to reconsider its policies.

The President also received a delegation from the Israeli political party Meretz, stressing his commitment to the two state solution.

Meretz chairperson Zahava Gal-On praised Abbas, describing him as a key partner in the peace process. Gal-On also slammed Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman for his recent remarks labeling Abbas an obstacle to peace.

In a letter to Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Lieberman accused President Mahmoud Abbas of "acting to undermine attempts to renew the peace process".

In early August, PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki told reporters in Ramallah that the PA would ask to be made a non-member observer state at the UN General Assembly on Sept. 27.