Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Wednesday weeks of rumours that the Palestinian Authority could collapse, saying he would "never give up" on it.<br />Abbas, 80, was speaking publicly for the first time since rumours surfaced last week that he was in poor health, which the PA has categorically denied.<br />He did not discuss the matter and appeared well.<br />He also spoke as three months of violent attacks by Palestinians on Israelis have made the PA and its leadership appear increasingly out of touch.<br />"I have heard a lot of talk in the past few days about the Authority, the destruction of the Authority, the collapse of the Authority," Abbas said.<br />"The Authority is an achievement of ours that we will never give up."
