Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations　

    RAMALLAH, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas vowed on Monday that he would work in coordination with all Palestinian classes to establish a real independent Palestinian state.

    Abbas addressed a televised speech, after the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) central council appointed him as the president on Sunday.

    Rival Islamic Hamas movement, which took control of the Gaza Strip by force in mid June last year, opposed the decision and said that the PLO doesn't represent all the Palestinian political and Islamic groups.

    "I promise you on this occasion to work together with you and with all our people's organizations to manifest the establishment of the independent Palestinian state on our national soil," said Abbas.

    Abbas succeeded late leader Yasser Arafat, who died on Nov. 11,2004, in a presidential election held in the Palestinian territories in January 2005. Hamas says Abbas' presidential term is due on Jan. 9, 2009.

    "Our future Palestinian state will be without occupation, settlements or prisons and prisoners. It will be the free independent state of Palestine that will be recognized by the whole world," said Abbas.

    In his speech, Abbas promised the Palestinians that he would follow the steps of late leader Yasser Arafat. Abbas repeated sentences from Arafat's speeches concerning Jerusalem and the independent Palestinian state.

    "This is an oath to the spirit of Yasser Arafat that we will raise the Palestinian flag on the mosques and churches of Jerusalem and end decades of pain and suffering," said Abbas.

    Abbas praised and defended the central council's decision, adding "it was made to protect the Palestinian legitimate leadership from the leaders of the coup d'etat who wants to turn the homeland of Palestine into two separate pieces."

    Hamas controls and rules the Gaza Strip, while Abbas and his Fatah movement rules the West Bank. The Palestinians and the Arabs failed to convince both rival factions to get back to dialogue and reach a national reconciliation.

    "If they believe that taking control of buildings and headquarters in Gaza would enable them to control our national decision, they would be completely wrong, wrong, wrong," Abbas said.

    He added that the PLO leadership reiterated that "our hands are still extended for national dialogue and holding legislative and presidential elections and rebuild the security establishments and invite all political groups to join the PLO."