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Abbas returns to warm welcome after resisting US pressure

Thousands rallied in the West Bank upon the return of President Mahmoud Abbas from the United States, lauding his refusal to accede to US demands on peace talks with Israel.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) waves during a ceremony to welcome him upon his return from Washington, where he met U.S. President Barack Obama, in the West Bank city of Ramallah March 20, 2014. Abbas has asked Washington to mediate with Israel for the release of Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian leader and possible presidential contender jailed a decade ago over a spate of suicide bombings. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3HVXX

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received a hero’s welcome in Ramallah after returning from what was billed as a tough summit in Washington with US President Barack Obama.

Abbas was hailed as having stood his ground in the Oval Office meeting, resisting strong pressure from the United States to budge on at least two publicly stated issues: recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and the long-term deployment of Israeli troops in the Jordan Valley.

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