World | Abbas Abbas Hails 'Palestinian Spring' in Hero's Welcome Triumphant president returns home By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Sep 25, 2011 8:41 AM CDT Copied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas holds a letter requesting recognition of Palestine as a state as he addresses the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 23, 2011 at UN Headquarters. (Richard Drew) See 5 more photos Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has received a hero's welcome in the West Bank, triumphantly telling his people the "Palestinian Spring" has begun following his historic speech to the UN last week. Abbas asked the world body on Friday to recognize Palestinian independence, defying appeals from Israel and the United States to return to peace talks. The speech has transformed Abbas, who widely been viewed as a bland bureaucrat, into a hero. The 76-year-old leader repeatedly shook and waved his hands to the crowd during his brief speech today. Haaretz notes that Abbas is redefining Palestinian leadership: He's democratically elected, against violence, and unafraid to go toe-to-toe with America. Read These Next Colbert tells audience it's curtains for his Late Show. This is why you don't wear metal in MRI rooms. Senate claws back aid to public broadcasting. A lost mom and son used handwritten notes to get rescued. See 5 more photos Report an error