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It is only with negotiations between the two sides that we demand immediately without any preconditions that a Palestinian state can become a reality," he said.
On Thursday, Mario Monti, the Italian prime minister, phoned Abbas to inform him of his country's decision to the bid at the UN, according to a statement. Monti also spoke with Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, assuring him that the decision did not signal a weakening of the traditionally strong Israel-Italy relationship.
Palestinian officials, keen on solidifying as much European favour as they can in the hours before the vote, have indicated they will not immediately seek to accede to the ICC, addressing a last international concern.
Israeli, British and US diplomats, apparently realising that they can no longer sway the Palestinians' in their whole bid, are now seeking guarantees that Palestinians would forego filing complaints against Israel in the court.
Palestinian officials have refused. But, appearing to balance their tone, they said the timing and strategy of their eventual ICC accession is a matter for later internal discussion.
"It is our right, and we will not abandon it. We will decide on the proper timing, given our priorities and best interests," Ashrawi said.
"It's not for any country to get the Palestinians to relinquish their rights. And if Israel is innocent, it has nothing to fear from the court," she told the Reuters news agency.
Britain, which in recent weeks had pushed European countries to abstain on the statehood vote, has requested that Palestinians renounce applying to the ICC in return for changing the British vote to a "yes".
The ICC is not an official organ of the United Nations, but generally accepts applications from its members.
Israel has at times cancelled visits by officials to Britain out of fear of war crimes litigation there. It is concerned that future Palestinian claims at the court could focus on its leaders and undermine its standing abroad.
On Thursday, Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy, reiterated the bloc's support for the recognition of Palestine as a full member of the UN "when appropriate", but said that "only a political solution" would bring peace to both Israel and Palestine.
'Two-state solution'
Israel and the US condemn the UN bid, saying the only genuine route to statehood for the Palestinians is via a peace agreement made in direct talks with Israel.
Peace talks, however, have been stalled for two years over the issue of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which have expanded despite being deemed illegal by most of the world. On Thursday, Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said the peace process was "on life support", and that direct negotiations must resume.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu downplayed the Palestinian's attempt to achieve their long-promised state.
"The decision at the UN today won't change anything on the ground," Netanyahu said. "It won't promote the establishment of a Palestinian state, it will distance it."
"Israel's hand is always extended in peace, but a Palestinian state will not be established without [a Palestinian] recognition of the State of Israel as the Jewish people's state. A Palestinian state will not be established without a declaration of the end of the conflict... without real security arrangements that protect the State of Israel and its citizens," the prime minister said.
Israel and the US have discussed withholding aid and tax revenue that the Palestinian government in the West Bank needs to survive. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has also viewed options that include bringing down Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Abbas said he was ready for an unconditional resumption of peace talks with Israel after a successful bid.
On Tuesday, a senior Israeli official told reporters that Israel would act cautiously, just as Palestinian negotiators said the number of countries indicating their decisions to vote "yes" was on the rise.
France has indicated its support, while Palestinian envoys say Ireland, Malta, Portugal and Luxembourg have conveyed their intention to vote "Yes", leaving Germany and the Czech Republic among the few possible "No" votes.
European countries were split in voting for a successful Palestinian bid to join the UN cultural agency UNESCO in October 2011. They appear to be leaning more closely towards supporting the Palestinian statehood bid in recent days.
"We support Palestinians' right to self-determination, without prejudicing good relations between Israel and the Palestinians and talks to ultimately solve the conflict," a European diplomat whose country supports the bid told Reuters.
"European countries have made an investment, politically and economically, in a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living in security with each other. We have an interest in moving that vision forward," the diplomat said.
European countries are eager to empower moderates, analysts say, after a bloody eight-day conflict this month between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
"If you add up the political calculations, nobody's willing to cut off their money and undermine Abu Mazen [Abbas] or his government," said Ramallah-based political commentator and former government spokesperson Diana Buttu.
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