Ramallah, March 21st (RHC) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that he will advocate Palestinian rights during negotiations with Israel, as the United States urges Palestinians to extend the peace talks.

"I will not give away Palestinian rights," Abbas told hundreds of loyalists at his office upon his arrival in Ramallah after a four-day visit to Washington to discuss the Israeli- Palestinian peace negotiations with President Barack Obama. No agreement has been reached on the American framework for a peace deal or on extending the peace talks with Israel.

Direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians resumed last July and are set to end in April, but both Israeli and Palestinian officials have said no tangible progress has been made during negotiations.