http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/23/world/middleeast/mahmoud-abbas-palestinian-authority-unga-2016-united-nations.html 2016-09-21 21:29:26 Mahmoud Abbas: Out to Push Palestinian Cause Back to Top of Agenda As president of the Palestinian Authority, he is not a head of state, a point he is likely to make in an appeal to the United Nations to help make him one. === When But he is not a head of state, no matter how much he wants to be, and that is the point Mr. Abbas is likely to make in yet another appeal to the world body to help make him one. With so much of the Middle East in turmoil, however, the challenge for Mr. Abbas is to push his cause back to the top of the international agenda amid fresh Palestinian attacks, which he attributes to frustration over Israel’s long occupation of the West Bank. There are only so many ways to draw attention to his issue — and he has already used many of them. Last year, after aides promised a “bombshell” in his annual speech, he declared that the Palestinians were Except that he did not follow through, so it will be harder on Thursday to make any similar statement. Instead, he may use the forum to complain that Prime Minister Mr. Abbas may clarify his own position on such talks. In the past, he has insisted that Israel first freeze settlement construction and release prisoners. But advisers said he had agreed to Russia’s invitation to meet without conditions. “No conditions. No requirements. No preparations. No nothing,” said Majdi Khaldi, a diplomatic adviser to Mr. Abbas. “He said O.K., and that’s all.” If that is the case, Mr. Abbas hopes to put Mr. Netanyahu on the spot in the most prominent venue available to a not-quite head of state.