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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged the European Union to restore funding to his government, in order to prevent the Palestinian territories from sliding into what he calls an abyss and a new cycle of conflict.

In an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg Tuesday, Mr. Abbas said the recent European aid cut-off threatens to make a deteriorating economic and social situation in the territories even worse.

The EU and the United States have frozen aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority because of Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel and renounce violence. For its part, Israel is withholding about 50 million dollars each month in tax revenue that it collects for the Palestinians.

Mr. Abbas said the Hamas-led government must be given a "chance to adapt" to the basic requirements of the international community.

The EU and its partners in the Mideast quartet - the United States, Russia and the United Nations - have begun exploring ways to provide aid to the Palestinian people while bypassing the government.

The Palestinian Authority is said to require about $150 million each month to meet its payroll needs and administrative costs.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.