mahmoud abbas is try to drum up support for a u.n. vote to recognize independent palestine. peace between the photog grouping and their rival, hamas. mahmoud abbas said that reconciliation between palestinian factions would strengthen the peace process and make a two-stage solution more likely. now, he ullike toet the world on board. the palestinians would like a new state comprising the west bank and gaza strip based on the borders before the war in 1967. the borders are far from the only issue to be resolved. the future of israeli settlements is a bone of contention as well as the future status of jerusalem and whether palestinian refugees should be allowed to return to their former homes. more than half of the member states have signaled support for a vote on statehood. many african nations are lining up support. some european members might come on board perhaps including scandinavian countries and france. germany says that they will not offer their support. they said a u.n. vote to recognize palestine would be counterproductive. >> is the good will is there on both sides

mahmoud abbas is try to drum up support foru. vote to indenntalti. peace between theg mahmoud abbas sd at renciaon between palestinian factions would strengthenhe peac ocs d make a two-stage solution more likely. no hwod ke to get the world on board. thealtianwod like a new state comprising the west nkndazstp sed on the borders before the war in 1967. the borders are far from the only issue to be rold. the future of israeli settlements is a bone of ntti awe as the future status of jerusalemnd wth palestinian refugees should be allowed to return to their foerom. more than half of the member stesav snad support for a vote on statehood. many african nations are lining up support. se european members might come on board perhaps including scandinavian countries and france. germany sayhath wlot offer their support. they said a u.n.oto recognize palestine would be counterproductive. >> is the good will is there on both sides, it is possibleo get the peace process moving. this would be bteha unilateral measures which do not helped. >> barackba has also warne

. >>> palestinian president mahmoud abbas this week urged palestinians to ratchet up peaceful protests against israel. he said the effort could increase pressure on the united nations, which is expected to consider approving palestinian statehood in september. >>> meanwhile, the ongoing conflict continues to take a heavy toll on that region's tiny christian minority. kim lawton has a special report on the diminishing numbers of christians in the holy land and the complicated, and sometimes controversial, efforts to support them. >> reporter: it's sunday morning in the west bank town of bethlehem. christians have gathered for worship at the ancient church of the nativity, which marks the traditional birthplace of jesus. local christians like john tawil say they feel a special tie to their faith. >> being a christian in bethlehem is something wonderful because it's the place where jesus was born. >> reporter: but the 2,000-year-old christian community here has been diminishing at an alarming rate. and some question whether christianity can ultimately survive in the land where it began. >

we need to spend some more time thinking about the way forward with the palestinian president mahmoud abbas that the fact of the quartet hasn't produced agreement so far means they have differences what kind of difference if you think he's talking about and. well i'm not sure to what to what extent it is that the court the court has as differences miserably mr lover off did not emphasize that so much today in his in his remarks and here for size today that that israel is is much more focused on security and that's understandable and that the palestinians are more focused upon national sovereignty in the establishment of a nation state so i think that the fundamental differences really lie between the israelis and the palestinians and to a lesser extent amongst the members of the quartet the sort of says will be another round of consultations in new york city this autumn in september the u.n. set to vote on recognition of the palestinian state do you think we do expect any breakthroughs that in these thoughts coming meetings of minds. you know i'm not i'm not particularly confident about any

mahmoud abbas, head of the palestinian authority, said he will ask the u.n. general assembly to vote on the issue in september. however, in order to become an official member of the u.n., the palestinians would need the support of the security council, and the u.s. would most likely veto such an effort. >>> there were new guidelines released this week for christian missionaries. the document comes from the world council of churches, the vatican and the world evangelical alliance, which together they say represent 90% of the world's christians. the groups urge christians to reject violence or any "coercive" methods while attempting conversions. they also say members of other religions should be treated with respect. creators of the document say they hope to reduce the tensions that can sometimes arise when christians proselytize in non-christian societies. >>> we have a report today on the moral choices involved in the intense negotiations underway in washington over what to do about the country's $14.3 trillion debt. if the debt ceiling is not raised by augus

the palestinian leader mahmoud abbas has accepted the greek offer to deliver humanitarian aid to gaza in place of the so-called freedom flotilla to athens in early suggested the transfer but refused to allow the campaign is to set sail earlier this week the vote for buying from leaving greek ports and one of its captains was arrested activists have suggested the greek government gave in to pressure from the u.s. and israel today accusing private sabotage their mission meanwhile the activists are gathered in the center of things to protest what they call more full treatment demand the release of their vessels i think correspondent is in athens with the latest from the demonstration. activists from the so-called freedom flotilla to have gathered in athens to protest decision to ban their vessels from leaving greek ports a few delegates were chosen to engage in talks with authorities and try to release the captain in custody and let this ship sail to gaza it requires understanding decision the authorities is unlawful as athens have not provided any explanation why different to what has b

stormed by israeli marines last may resulting in nine deaths meanwhile the palestinian leader mahmoud abbas has accepted a greek offer to deliver humanitarian aid to gaza in place of the flotilla correspondent is in the greek capital with the latest. good activists from the so-called freedom flotilla to have gathered in athens to protest decision to ban their vessels from moving greek ports greek coolers understand the decision of authorities is unlawful as athens have not provided any explanation to why the flotilla has been need to change in the first place a members of european parliament who are part of the humanitarian mission not planning to pressure the e.u. and the u.n. to interfere and stop greece from laying off keep leading this was important. and of all the way we have more exclusive coverage of the freedom flotilla story for you online just log on to r.t. dot com reports that remains on one of those detained but to the boats providing regular updates from the scene or so a lot of the moment if you missed it here's moscow international film festival log on to get a roundup of al

stormed by israeli marines last may resulting in nine deaths meanwhile the palestinian leader mahmoud abbas has accepted a greek offer to deliver humanitarian aid to gaza in place of the parties correspondent is in the greek capital with the latest. activists from the so-called freedom flotilla to have gathered in athens to protest decision to ban their vessels from leaving greek ports if you do gates were chosen to engage in talks with authorities and try to release the captain in custody and let the ship. stand a decision of authorities is unlawful as athens has not provided any explanation to why this material has been detained in the first place members of european parliament who are part of the humanitarian mission of trying to pressure the e.u. and the u.n. to interfere and stop greece from unlawfully keeping the last was in port. by the way we have more exclusive coverage of the freedom flotilla story for you online on the web site that's dot com. porter he. remains one of those detained providing regular updates from the scene. at the moment if you missed the international film fest