Abbas's statement came during a visit by a delegation of Israeli academics at his office in the central occupied West Bank district of Ramallah, on Tuesday.

Abbas stressed "I want a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders without an army. I want policemen with sticks, not weapons. Instead of airplanes and tanks, setting up schools and hospitals, as well as allocating budgets and resources to social institutions is a priority."

He discussed the important role the Palestinian youth can play in peace making, noting that the right of the future generations to live in peace and away from hatred, violence and occupation.

The meeting was organized by the Committee to Communicate with the Israeli Society, a department in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), headed by Muhammad Madani.

Additionally, Israeli Member of the Knesset Tzipi Livni, Leader of the Opposition, posted on her Twitter account confirming that Abbas did agree to a demilitarized state during negotiations.