Abu Mazen breaks with Israel and the US: end of 'all agreements'
The response of the Palestinian Authority to the annexation plan supported by the new government. For Abbas, all "responsibility" will now fall on Israel "as an occupying power." A reduction in the Palestinian police and intelligence effort is possible. The European attempt to revive negotiations.
Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Palestinian Authority President Abu Mazen yesterday announced the blockade of "all agreements" with Israel and the United States, in response to the new government's plan to annex part of the occupied West Bank territories. The decision came at the end of a meeting of the Palestinian political leadership in Ramallah, in which Abbas stressed that "all responsibilities" fall on Israel "... as an occupying power".
In the past, the president of the PA had launched similar threats, without ever putting them into practice. However, today the situation appears even more complex with the new government of Israel determined to annex the territories, thanks also to the support of the United States in the context of the controversial "Agreement of the century", the peace plan drawn up by the Trump administration.
Tensions in the area concern the Christian leaders of the Holy Land, who speak of "grave and catastrophic" politics; yesterday the Holy See also intervened expressing its concern about Israel's "annexation programs".
The White House plan calls for a Palestinian state in 70% of the current West Bank territories, all of Gaza and the capital in a suburb on the outskirts of East Jerusalem. The Palestinians, who are claiming the entire West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, reject the US project across the board.
At the end of the meeting in Ramallah, President Abu Mazen declared that the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine and the State of Palestine "are no longer bound by the agreements" and the "commitments" that derive from them, in particular as regards security. "From now on - he added - the Israeli authorities, as an occupying power, must assume obligations and responsibilities towards the international community", especially "the Fourth Geneva Convention".
Analysts and experts point out that this move should lead to a reduction in the commitment of the Palestinian police and intelligence, forcing Israel to bear the weight of security of the civilian population in the occupied territories, a ban on collective punishment, the annexation of land and transfers of population from the occupant to occupied which constitute serious violations and war crimes”. Abbas finally launched an appeal to the nations to impose "heavy sanctions" on Israel if the new government proceeds with the annexation project.
Meanwhile, European diplomacy is moving with France, Germany and Italy at the forefront of planning a "joint action" to try to revive the "negotiations" between Israel and Palestine and do not rule out a "response" in case of annexation. The goal is to get "everyone back to the negotiating table", underlines French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who "within the next few days" will discuss the matter with his Israeli counterpart.
.png)
23/09/2019 12:25
10/12/2019 09:26
