PA calls for international coalition 'to end Israeli occupation'
Call comes in response to US-led coalition against Islamic State terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH, TOVAH LAZAROFFPA President Mahmoud Abbas(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Palestinian Authority on Tuesday called for an international coalition “to end Israeli occupation.”The call came in response to the US-led coalition against the Islamic State terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria.PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaineh said as long as that coalition’s goal is to fight terrorism, “what is needed first is an international coalition to end Israeli occupation. Without this, the region will face more chaos and disintegration.”Earlier this week, the PA leadership voiced concern that the war on Islamic State would divert attention from the Palestinian issue.PA President Mahmoud Abbas was quoted on Tuesday saying he was determined to proceed with his new plan to establish an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines within three years.Addressing Palestinians in Tulkarm on the 32nd anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon, Abbas pledged to go to the UN to achieve his goal.“We are going to the United Nations as one of the methods to achieve our goals,” he said. Abbas predicted there would be some parties that would try to prevent the Palestinians from going to the UN and seeking membership in various international organizations, hinting at the likelihood the US would veto such a move at the UN Security Council.Both Abbas and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are expected to address the UN’s General Assembly in New York during the opening days of the 69th session, which kicks off on September 24.The Palestinians are also working on passing a Security Council resolution in regard to its conflict with Israel. The US, which has veto power, has in the past opposed solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the United Nations and its Security Council. It does, however, believe that a limited resolution to support a cease-fire between Israel and Gaza could be helpful.US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, who is also heading the Security Council this month, said, “we continue to believe a resolution could play a positive role in enhancing the durability of a cease-fire. But we are still in consultations on this topic.”
She said the issue was raised at the Security Council on Tuesday.Robert Serry, UN special envoy to the peace process, said the Palestinians had begun discussing a broader initiative with the Security Council, but he did not offer information about their proposal.Serry did say, however, that it was important to link what his organization was doing in Gaza with the larger peace process, because the conflict between Gaza and Israel can only be solved by a larger agreement for a two-state solution.An Israeli official said the Palestinians understood that the only path to a two-state solution was through negotiations.A nine-month US -brokered peace process fell apart in April after the Palestinian Authority formed a national consensus government with Hamas, with the objective of holding elections - including in the West Bank.
