US persuades PA to postpone request for UN vote on Israeli withdrawal
Kerry reportedly told the PA leadership that a US veto would have a negative impact on American-Palestinian relations.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEHUS Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo this week.(photo credit: REUTERS)
The US Administration persuaded the Palestinian Authority to postpone its intention to seek a UN Security Council resolution calling for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines, Palestinian sources disclosed Saturday.The sources told the Palestinian daily Al-Quds that US Secretary of State John Kerry, who played a key role in persuading the PA leadership to delay its Security Council bid, made it clear that the move would embarrass Washington by forcing it to veto the proposed resolution.Kerry reportedly told the PA leadership that a US veto would have a negative impact on American-Palestinian relations.Al-Quds also revealed that the PA has failed to win the backing of nine members of the Security Council for the proposed resolution, which envisages the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital on all the territories captured by Israel in 1967.The paper said that US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, had exerted pressure on the non-permanent members of the Security Council to stop them from supporting the PA initiative.Last week, the PA said it has secured the backing of seven Security Council members for the statehood bid: Chile, Nigeria, Russia, Argentina, Jordan, Chad and China.In Ramallah, a senior aide to PA President Mahmoud Abbas said that the Palestinians were determined to proceed with their Security Council bid, despite US pressure.Tayeb Abdel Raheem, Secretary-General of the PA presidency, said that Israel’s stance toward the peace process and its refusal to accept Palestinian demands would force the Palestinians to seek a Security Council resolution that would set a timeline for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines.Raheem said that the PA was also determined to join international organizations and treaties in order to “protect Palestinian rights and provide international protection for the Palestinians.“Despite the pressure we are facing, we are determined to proceed with our plan to go to the Security Council and all international organizations in order to end Israeli occupation and enable our people to exercise their legitimate and fixed rights,” he said.
