4 jan 2015
Member of the central committee of the Popular Front for the liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Husain al-Jamal, said the application made by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to join international organizations including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Rome Statute is a step in the right direction.
He stressed, however, that the PA should not procrastinate on the matter or exploit the step in order to go back to the frivolous negotiations.
He said, in a statement to Palestine Today News Channel TV and al-Quds TV, that the threats, made by Israel, claiming that signing the Rome Statute will hold the resistance leadership accountable are nonsense as they fight for the Palestinian right of independence which is guaranteed by the international law.
The PFLP official condemned the PA solo movement in managing the “legal battle”, which has recently reached an important stage after achieving satisfactory results towards the de-legitimization of the Israeli occupation.
The Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas’s timing of tabling a draft resolution with the UN Security Council seeking recognition of a Palestinian state and an end to the Israeli occupation by the end of 2017 was inappropriate as he should have waited to guarantee more supporting votes, he opined.
Jamal finally called for halting the security collaboration between PA and Israel and urged the PA to free itself from Oslo Accords.
He stressed, however, that the PA should not procrastinate on the matter or exploit the step in order to go back to the frivolous negotiations.
He said, in a statement to Palestine Today News Channel TV and al-Quds TV, that the threats, made by Israel, claiming that signing the Rome Statute will hold the resistance leadership accountable are nonsense as they fight for the Palestinian right of independence which is guaranteed by the international law.
The PFLP official condemned the PA solo movement in managing the “legal battle”, which has recently reached an important stage after achieving satisfactory results towards the de-legitimization of the Israeli occupation.
The Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas’s timing of tabling a draft resolution with the UN Security Council seeking recognition of a Palestinian state and an end to the Israeli occupation by the end of 2017 was inappropriate as he should have waited to guarantee more supporting votes, he opined.
Jamal finally called for halting the security collaboration between PA and Israel and urged the PA to free itself from Oslo Accords.
The former Iranian Ambassador to Oman, Mohammad Irani, said the relations between his country and Hamas have never ceased and should not stop at details of the stands of each party as far as the Syrian crisis is concerned, as the relations are based on supporting the Palestinian question.
The former Ambassador and Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs said, during his talk to Merdem Emrouz Iranian newspaper on Saturday, that Iran has to support and aid all Palestinian resistance factions who fight the Israeli occupation, with Hamas on top, as the Palestinian cause is of significant concern for Iran’s foreign policy.
The Iranian diplomat stated that no attention should be paid to what is being published by Israeli press regarding the possibility of moving Hamas bureaus from Doha to Tehran, assuring that Israel is very annoyed of Tehran-Hamas relations and does not welcome any rapprochement between the two.
Iran and Turkey would not form alternatives to Qatar for Hamas as the relations is not based on an alternative policy, the former ambassador said.
He also stressed that the relations between Qatar and Hamas are solid and long-standing. There are no signs that Qatar may abandon support of Hamas, he added.
The former Ambassador and Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs said, during his talk to Merdem Emrouz Iranian newspaper on Saturday, that Iran has to support and aid all Palestinian resistance factions who fight the Israeli occupation, with Hamas on top, as the Palestinian cause is of significant concern for Iran’s foreign policy.
The Iranian diplomat stated that no attention should be paid to what is being published by Israeli press regarding the possibility of moving Hamas bureaus from Doha to Tehran, assuring that Israel is very annoyed of Tehran-Hamas relations and does not welcome any rapprochement between the two.
Iran and Turkey would not form alternatives to Qatar for Hamas as the relations is not based on an alternative policy, the former ambassador said.
He also stressed that the relations between Qatar and Hamas are solid and long-standing. There are no signs that Qatar may abandon support of Hamas, he added.
The Turkish courage in supporting the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the massacre committed by the Israeli navy on the Turkish aid ship Mavi Marmara motivated the Palestinian refugee Muhammad Shana'a to name his son after the then Turkish Prime Minister and current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Back then, Shana'a didn't know that this child will cause a drastic change in his family's harsh life in the Lebanese refugee camps.
Erdogan's visit to Saida in 2010 to sponsor the opening of the Turkish Hospital was a golden opportunity for Shana'a to meet the distinguished guest.
After 4 years of that meeting, Shana'a learned that his son "Recep Tayyip Erdogan" and then his five siblings, his father and mother were granted the Turkish nationality, giving them the chance to start a whole new life that would compensate them for the life of poverty and suffering they lived in the refugee camps. Shana'a lives in a small house that lacks the minimum necessities of life in al Miyah wa Miyah camp.
"After I named my son, I said that one day the great president Erdogan will carry him, and after about a month I came to know that he will visit Saida to open the Turkish Hospital so I prepared myself to attend the opening to see him even if from afar," Shana'a said.
Surprisingly, Shana'a received a phone call from Lebanese MP Bahia al-Hariri asking him about his son and his address and he was taken to the inauguration ceremony, and in a historic moment that changed the life of the displaced family, Erdogan, then Prime Minister, carried Erdogan, the Palestinian child, kissed him, promised the family to offer help and asked for their identification papers.
After a short period of communicating with the Turkish President via different means, Shana'a received a phone call from the Turkish Embassy telling him that the whole family has been granted the Turkish nationality.
The Turkish flag is rising on the small Palestinian house and photos of the Turkish President are hanging on its walls including the historic photo of him carrying and kissing the child.
The Palestinian refugee gratefully thanked the Turkish President saying: "despite his many preoccupations, Erdogan has never forgotten us, al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem or Gaza". Shana'a believes that the Turkish nationality will change his whole life because, according to him, carrying the nationality of such a great country will allow him to travel freely and enjoy his full rights.
Back then, Shana'a didn't know that this child will cause a drastic change in his family's harsh life in the Lebanese refugee camps.
Erdogan's visit to Saida in 2010 to sponsor the opening of the Turkish Hospital was a golden opportunity for Shana'a to meet the distinguished guest.
After 4 years of that meeting, Shana'a learned that his son "Recep Tayyip Erdogan" and then his five siblings, his father and mother were granted the Turkish nationality, giving them the chance to start a whole new life that would compensate them for the life of poverty and suffering they lived in the refugee camps. Shana'a lives in a small house that lacks the minimum necessities of life in al Miyah wa Miyah camp.
"After I named my son, I said that one day the great president Erdogan will carry him, and after about a month I came to know that he will visit Saida to open the Turkish Hospital so I prepared myself to attend the opening to see him even if from afar," Shana'a said.
Surprisingly, Shana'a received a phone call from Lebanese MP Bahia al-Hariri asking him about his son and his address and he was taken to the inauguration ceremony, and in a historic moment that changed the life of the displaced family, Erdogan, then Prime Minister, carried Erdogan, the Palestinian child, kissed him, promised the family to offer help and asked for their identification papers.
After a short period of communicating with the Turkish President via different means, Shana'a received a phone call from the Turkish Embassy telling him that the whole family has been granted the Turkish nationality.
The Turkish flag is rising on the small Palestinian house and photos of the Turkish President are hanging on its walls including the historic photo of him carrying and kissing the child.
The Palestinian refugee gratefully thanked the Turkish President saying: "despite his many preoccupations, Erdogan has never forgotten us, al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem or Gaza". Shana'a believes that the Turkish nationality will change his whole life because, according to him, carrying the nationality of such a great country will allow him to travel freely and enjoy his full rights.
Secretary-general of the Palestinian national initiative Mustafa al-Barghouthi condemned Israel's freeze on the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as "financial piracy and banditry."
In press remarks on Sunday, Barghouthi called on the PA to be steadfast in the face of the Israeli pressures that aim to break its political will and undermine the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
He also urged the PA to immediately respond to Israel's decision to freeze Palestinian tax funds by halting its security cooperation with it and taking other deterrent decisions against it.
The Palestinian ministry of finance confirmed its receipt of an official notification from the Israeli government on Saturday about its decision to freeze the transfer of about half a billion shekels in tax revenues to its bank account.
The Israeli government is committed to transferring tax revenues to the PA on a regular basis in accordance with an agreement between the two sides.
The decision to stop the Palestinian tax transfers was made during a meeting chaired by Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu last Thursday to discuss Israel’s response to the Palestinian Authority’s application for membership of the international tribunal.
Further punitive measures against the Palestinians were also discussed at the meeting, including filing complaints against them in a number of courts around the world, whether officially in the name of Israel, or through Zionist organizations.
In press remarks on Sunday, Barghouthi called on the PA to be steadfast in the face of the Israeli pressures that aim to break its political will and undermine the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
He also urged the PA to immediately respond to Israel's decision to freeze Palestinian tax funds by halting its security cooperation with it and taking other deterrent decisions against it.
The Palestinian ministry of finance confirmed its receipt of an official notification from the Israeli government on Saturday about its decision to freeze the transfer of about half a billion shekels in tax revenues to its bank account.
The Israeli government is committed to transferring tax revenues to the PA on a regular basis in accordance with an agreement between the two sides.
The decision to stop the Palestinian tax transfers was made during a meeting chaired by Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu last Thursday to discuss Israel’s response to the Palestinian Authority’s application for membership of the international tribunal.
Further punitive measures against the Palestinians were also discussed at the meeting, including filing complaints against them in a number of courts around the world, whether officially in the name of Israel, or through Zionist organizations.
Senior Hamas official Husam Badran said the failure of the Palestinian Authority's statehood bid at the UN Security Council was not a shock to the Palestinian street, which had known the result in advance.
In press remarks on Saturday, Badran said no one on the Palestinian street expected something from the Security Council, adding that the Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership took its step unilaterally.
He expressed his belief that the PA made its move at the UN out of frustration after the failure of the peace process with the Israeli occupation.
"The attitude of the PA on the ground lacks seriousness and reflects the absence of any real plan of action," the Hamas official underscored.
The UN Security Council on Tuesday, December 30, 2014, rejected a Palestinian draft resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories by late 2017.
Even if the draft had received the minimum nine votes in favor, it would have been defeated by the American veto.
However, spokesman for the PA presidency Nabil Abu Rudainah stated recently that the PA leadership was considering the possibility of tabling its draft resolution once again for another vote at the UN Security Council.
In press remarks on Saturday, Badran said no one on the Palestinian street expected something from the Security Council, adding that the Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership took its step unilaterally.
He expressed his belief that the PA made its move at the UN out of frustration after the failure of the peace process with the Israeli occupation.
"The attitude of the PA on the ground lacks seriousness and reflects the absence of any real plan of action," the Hamas official underscored.
The UN Security Council on Tuesday, December 30, 2014, rejected a Palestinian draft resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories by late 2017.
Even if the draft had received the minimum nine votes in favor, it would have been defeated by the American veto.
However, spokesman for the PA presidency Nabil Abu Rudainah stated recently that the PA leadership was considering the possibility of tabling its draft resolution once again for another vote at the UN Security Council.
3 jan 2015
Sheikh Yousuf Abu Sunaina, a preacher of the Aqsa Mosque, called on the Palestinians to come together and put aside their differences in order to effectively confront the schemes that target the Palestinian cause.
"Having recourse to the Security Council and UN bodies will not be beneficial for us because they are tools in the hands of the occupying power; so we, rather, have to join our ranks and achieve national unity, or else we will never succeed," Sheikh Abu Sunaina said during his Friday Khutba (sermon).
"Despite the calamities and suffering that surround us and our Islamic land, but the good things are coming and the next days will prove to you this as long as to your land you are adherent and in your Mosque you keep staying," he stressed.
"The enemy has been able to use all its capabilities to continue its war on your land, so it has killed, destroyed, displaced, tortured and demolished, but this is a divine test and you have to be up to this test," the preacher underlined.
He also criticized the silence of Muslim scholars on the dangers threatening the Aqsa Mosque and the holy city of Jerusalem.
"It is extraordinary that the Muslim scholars keep silent and do not say a single truthful word as if the Aqsa Mosque does not concern them," he deplored.
"Having recourse to the Security Council and UN bodies will not be beneficial for us because they are tools in the hands of the occupying power; so we, rather, have to join our ranks and achieve national unity, or else we will never succeed," Sheikh Abu Sunaina said during his Friday Khutba (sermon).
"Despite the calamities and suffering that surround us and our Islamic land, but the good things are coming and the next days will prove to you this as long as to your land you are adherent and in your Mosque you keep staying," he stressed.
"The enemy has been able to use all its capabilities to continue its war on your land, so it has killed, destroyed, displaced, tortured and demolished, but this is a divine test and you have to be up to this test," the preacher underlined.
He also criticized the silence of Muslim scholars on the dangers threatening the Aqsa Mosque and the holy city of Jerusalem.
"It is extraordinary that the Muslim scholars keep silent and do not say a single truthful word as if the Aqsa Mosque does not concern them," he deplored.
2 jan 2015
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to decline the Palestinian request to join it and pledged to protect Israeli soldiers from any overseas prosecution.
"We expect the ICC to reject the hypocritical request by the Palestinian Authority, which is not a state but an entity linked to a terrorist organization," he said in a statement on Thursday, referring to Hamas.
"The state of Israel is a lawful country with a moral army that enforces all international law," he claimed.
Netanyahu's statement came one day after Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas signed a document at a meeting in Ramallah requesting membership of 20 International treaties and organizations, including the ICC.
Abbas signed the documents in response to the UN Security Council's vote on Wednesday against a Palestinian plea calling for ending the Israeli occupation by late 2017.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday handed over the membership applications to the UN coordinator for humanitarian affairs, James Rowley, at Ramallah’s presidential headquarters.
The US administration and the Israeli government had repeatedly warned the Palestinian Authority of serious political implications if it decided to go on with its stated intention to join UN organizations and the ICC.
"We expect the ICC to reject the hypocritical request by the Palestinian Authority, which is not a state but an entity linked to a terrorist organization," he said in a statement on Thursday, referring to Hamas.
"The state of Israel is a lawful country with a moral army that enforces all international law," he claimed.
Netanyahu's statement came one day after Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas signed a document at a meeting in Ramallah requesting membership of 20 International treaties and organizations, including the ICC.
Abbas signed the documents in response to the UN Security Council's vote on Wednesday against a Palestinian plea calling for ending the Israeli occupation by late 2017.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday handed over the membership applications to the UN coordinator for humanitarian affairs, James Rowley, at Ramallah’s presidential headquarters.
The US administration and the Israeli government had repeatedly warned the Palestinian Authority of serious political implications if it decided to go on with its stated intention to join UN organizations and the ICC.
Palestinian university professor Ahmad A-Masri, 62, was mysteriously killed on Thursday afternoon during a burglary at his Deir Balah home in central Gaza.
Local sources said al-Masri was murdered by three unidentified burglars who hit him in the head as they were stealing money and jewelry from his house.
Gaza’s prosecutor general said a probe into the murder has been launched to identify the perpetrators and the circumstances of the crime.
General Prosecutor Ismail Jabr expressed his belief that the main motive for the murder was robbery.
A forensic team was dispatched to examine the crime scene, Jabr added.
Local sources said al-Masri was murdered by three unidentified burglars who hit him in the head as they were stealing money and jewelry from his house.
Gaza’s prosecutor general said a probe into the murder has been launched to identify the perpetrators and the circumstances of the crime.
General Prosecutor Ismail Jabr expressed his belief that the main motive for the murder was robbery.
A forensic team was dispatched to examine the crime scene, Jabr added.
1 jan 2015
Palestinian organizations in Europe urged the Palestinian Authority (PA) to rebuild the Palestine Liberation Organization on the basis of democratic representation and to expedite the signing of Rome Statute.
The organizations confirmed in a joint statement issued on Wednesday the importance of achieving national unity on the basis of justice and safeguarding the Palestinian inalienable rights.
The organizations also stressed the importance of restructuring the Palestinian popular and syndicate organizations inside and outside the occupied homeland, as well as signing the Rome Statute as soon as possible, asserting that being a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a national necessity.
They said that the Palestinians’ rights of returning to their homeland and having an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital are non-negotiable.
The statement pointed out that Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque will always belong to the Palestinians, and urged all concerned parties to give high priority with the goal of halting the ongoing judaization attempts.
It also called for accelerating the execution of national reconciliation in order to form a national government that represents all political spectra, lift the siege that has been imposed on Gaza for 8 years, open the crossings and the port, reconstruct the beleaguered Strip and pay the Gazan employees their salaries.
The statement further stressed that committing to what has been mentioned will undoubtedly put an end to the Palestinian tragedies and will stop the bloodshed, displacement and suffering of the Palestinians in Syria and Lebanon.
Palestinians in Europe are an integral part of the Palestinian people and will always react with the various Palestinian issues, the statement said then demonstrated their most important achievements during 2014, and the unprecedented European movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people, confirming that it will continue until the blockade on Gaza is lifted.
The statement added: "2014 was the European uprising year at both popular and parliamentary levels as the European decision-making circles became more familiar with our inalienable rights thanks to the Palestinian steadfastness".
The statement pointed out the key-role of European Palestinians in alleviating the suffering of Palestinian refugees in Syria, saying: "Palestinians in Syria were arrested, tortured and killed without the slightest justification, tens of thousands of them were displaced and from the first moment we exerted every effort trying to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians and Syrians alike."
It also stressed that Palestinians in Europe never forgot the cause of Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails, and that it has always been among their high priorities, and during the last year they organized thousands of popular events to show solidarity and to support the Palestinian cause especially Israeli products boycott campaigns. Furthermore, they held hundreds of political meetings aiming to reveal the truth of what is going on in Palestine.
More than 26 European organizations have signed this joint statement.
The organizations confirmed in a joint statement issued on Wednesday the importance of achieving national unity on the basis of justice and safeguarding the Palestinian inalienable rights.
The organizations also stressed the importance of restructuring the Palestinian popular and syndicate organizations inside and outside the occupied homeland, as well as signing the Rome Statute as soon as possible, asserting that being a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a national necessity.
They said that the Palestinians’ rights of returning to their homeland and having an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital are non-negotiable.
The statement pointed out that Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque will always belong to the Palestinians, and urged all concerned parties to give high priority with the goal of halting the ongoing judaization attempts.
It also called for accelerating the execution of national reconciliation in order to form a national government that represents all political spectra, lift the siege that has been imposed on Gaza for 8 years, open the crossings and the port, reconstruct the beleaguered Strip and pay the Gazan employees their salaries.
The statement further stressed that committing to what has been mentioned will undoubtedly put an end to the Palestinian tragedies and will stop the bloodshed, displacement and suffering of the Palestinians in Syria and Lebanon.
Palestinians in Europe are an integral part of the Palestinian people and will always react with the various Palestinian issues, the statement said then demonstrated their most important achievements during 2014, and the unprecedented European movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people, confirming that it will continue until the blockade on Gaza is lifted.
The statement added: "2014 was the European uprising year at both popular and parliamentary levels as the European decision-making circles became more familiar with our inalienable rights thanks to the Palestinian steadfastness".
The statement pointed out the key-role of European Palestinians in alleviating the suffering of Palestinian refugees in Syria, saying: "Palestinians in Syria were arrested, tortured and killed without the slightest justification, tens of thousands of them were displaced and from the first moment we exerted every effort trying to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians and Syrians alike."
It also stressed that Palestinians in Europe never forgot the cause of Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails, and that it has always been among their high priorities, and during the last year they organized thousands of popular events to show solidarity and to support the Palestinian cause especially Israeli products boycott campaigns. Furthermore, they held hundreds of political meetings aiming to reveal the truth of what is going on in Palestine.
More than 26 European organizations have signed this joint statement.
The Palestinian delegation to the UN said it deferred the submission of applications signed up by president Mahmoud Abbas for membership in international organizations and treaties until Friday without providing clarification on its decision.
According to al-Jazeera Net on Thursday, the Palestinian mission to the UN did not provide any explanation for its decision to postpone the submission of the signed papers to the office of the UN secretary-general or the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Earlier, the Palestinian Authority (PA) had said that its ambassador to the UN Riyadh Mansour would submit on Wednesday all papers to the concerned organizations.
In reaction to the UN Security Council's Wednesday vote against the Palestinian statehood bid, Abbas immediately signed up papers to join 20 international organizations and treaties, including the Rome statute of the ICC.
Abbas had warned that if the UN resolution failed, he would resume efforts to join international organizations to pressure Israel to end its violations in the occupied territories.
Joining the ICC would enable the PA to file complaints against Israel and hold it accountable for war crimes and violations against the Palestinians, especially in Gaza.
According to al-Jazeera Net on Thursday, the Palestinian mission to the UN did not provide any explanation for its decision to postpone the submission of the signed papers to the office of the UN secretary-general or the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Earlier, the Palestinian Authority (PA) had said that its ambassador to the UN Riyadh Mansour would submit on Wednesday all papers to the concerned organizations.
In reaction to the UN Security Council's Wednesday vote against the Palestinian statehood bid, Abbas immediately signed up papers to join 20 international organizations and treaties, including the Rome statute of the ICC.
Abbas had warned that if the UN resolution failed, he would resume efforts to join international organizations to pressure Israel to end its violations in the occupied territories.
Joining the ICC would enable the PA to file complaints against Israel and hold it accountable for war crimes and violations against the Palestinians, especially in Gaza.
Hamas Movement hailed in a statement issued Wednesday evening the Tunisian president Beji Caid Essebsi for granting priority to the Palestinian cause.
"We express our deep appreciation for Essebsi’s statements on granting priority to the Palestinian cause", the Movement said, pointing to the depth of the relations between the Tunisian and Palestinian peoples.
Hamas Movement wished continued stability and prosperity for the people of Tunisia, the statement said.
Tunisia’s higher independent elections committee declared on Tuesday that head of Nidaa Tounes (Tunisia Calls) party Beji Caid Essebsi had won Tunisia's first democratic presidential elections by taking more than 55 percent of the vote.
"We express our deep appreciation for Essebsi’s statements on granting priority to the Palestinian cause", the Movement said, pointing to the depth of the relations between the Tunisian and Palestinian peoples.
Hamas Movement wished continued stability and prosperity for the people of Tunisia, the statement said.
Tunisia’s higher independent elections committee declared on Tuesday that head of Nidaa Tounes (Tunisia Calls) party Beji Caid Essebsi had won Tunisia's first democratic presidential elections by taking more than 55 percent of the vote.
The Hamas Movement welcomed the signing of the Rome statute by president Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, describing it as a step in the right direction.
In a press release, Hamas said the step should be followed by other moves, which include decisions to halt all forms of negotiations and security cooperation with the Israeli occupation.
The Movement also called on the Palestinian Authority leadership to take steps towards Gaza by working on lifting its blockade, reconstructing it, achieving occupational justice for all civil servants, and enabling the Palestinian legislative council to assume its duties.
For his part, senior Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil also blessed the move and called for immediately convening the provisional leadership framework of the Palestine liberation organization (PLO) to develop a comprehensive plan to confront the occupation.
He also stressed the need for halting all kinds of media incitement against Gaza and the Palestinian resistance, and accepting the concept of political partnership.
The Rome Statue was among some 20 international agreements signed by Abbas during a meeting held on Wednesday evening in Ramallah in response to the UN Security Council's rejection of a Palestinian-Arab draft resolution demanding an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories by late 2017.
Signing up to the statute is seen as the first move to joining the international criminal court.
In a press release, Hamas said the step should be followed by other moves, which include decisions to halt all forms of negotiations and security cooperation with the Israeli occupation.
The Movement also called on the Palestinian Authority leadership to take steps towards Gaza by working on lifting its blockade, reconstructing it, achieving occupational justice for all civil servants, and enabling the Palestinian legislative council to assume its duties.
For his part, senior Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil also blessed the move and called for immediately convening the provisional leadership framework of the Palestine liberation organization (PLO) to develop a comprehensive plan to confront the occupation.
He also stressed the need for halting all kinds of media incitement against Gaza and the Palestinian resistance, and accepting the concept of political partnership.
The Rome Statue was among some 20 international agreements signed by Abbas during a meeting held on Wednesday evening in Ramallah in response to the UN Security Council's rejection of a Palestinian-Arab draft resolution demanding an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories by late 2017.
Signing up to the statute is seen as the first move to joining the international criminal court.
PA President and Fateh member Mahmoud Abbas, Wednesday, signed a formal request for Palestine to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), following a failed UN resolution for ending the Israeli occupation.
Tuesday's vote at the United Nations Security Council came after a three-month Palestinian campaign to win support for the resolution.
The resolution, if passed, would have set a 12-month deadline for Israel to reach a final peace deal with the Palestinians and called for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territories by the end of 2017.
Jailed Fateh leader Marwan Barghouhti criticized the text of the resolution before its submission, urging Palestinian leadership to reword the proposal.
The Israeli state hailed the rejection as a victory, saying that it dealt a blow to Palestinian efforts to diplomatically "embarrass and isolate" Israel.
China, France, and Russia voted in favor, while the United States and Australia voted against.
Abstentions included Britain, Rwanda, Nigeria, Lithuania and South Korea.
The ICC can prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, AFP further notes, and Palestinian plans to become a party to the court have been fervently opposed by both Israel and the United States.
Palestinian leadership hopes that ICC membership will pave the way for war crimes prosecutions against Israeli officials for their actions in the occupied territories.
Israel, however, asserts that "Palestinian crimes" would be exposed to the judgement of the Hague-based court, should the bid succeed.
Islamic-based political party Hamas signed a proposal for Palestinian membership at the ICC, this past August, and is holding Abbas accountable for promises to cut PA security cooperation.
Abbas applies for membership in 20 international treaties including ICC
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday evening signed applications for Palestinian membership in 20 international organizations and treaties, including the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Abbas’s move came in response to the failure of the Palestinian statehood resolution at the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
Earlier, Abbas said that he was determined to pursue his efforts to achieve a Palestinian state despite the failure at the Security Council.
Referring to the decision to join the ICC, Abbas said, “We want to file a complaint against Israel. We are being attacked. Our lands are being attacked every day. Who are we going to complain to? The Security Council has let us down. There’s an international organization and we’re going to it to complain.”
Speaking to Fatah supporters Wednesday afternoon at a rally in Ramallah marking Fatah's 50th inception anniversary, Abbas said: “The Security Council is not the end of the world. Last night’s session was not the end of the journey. We have something to say about this as of tonight. We and our children will continue until we arrive at Jerusalem, the capital of the Palestinian state.”
Earlier, on Tuesday evening, the UN Security Council rejected a Palestinian resolution calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories by 2017.
The statehood bid failed to muster the minimum nine "yes" votes required to pass in the council.
The motion received eight "yes" votes, from China, France, Russia, Argentina, Chad, Chile, Jordan, and Luxembourg. Two member states - US and Australia – opposed while the five other members - UK, Lithuania, Nigeria, Korea, and Rwanda – abstained.
Tuesday's vote at the United Nations Security Council came after a three-month Palestinian campaign to win support for the resolution.
The resolution, if passed, would have set a 12-month deadline for Israel to reach a final peace deal with the Palestinians and called for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territories by the end of 2017.
Jailed Fateh leader Marwan Barghouhti criticized the text of the resolution before its submission, urging Palestinian leadership to reword the proposal.
The Israeli state hailed the rejection as a victory, saying that it dealt a blow to Palestinian efforts to diplomatically "embarrass and isolate" Israel.
China, France, and Russia voted in favor, while the United States and Australia voted against.
Abstentions included Britain, Rwanda, Nigeria, Lithuania and South Korea.
The ICC can prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, AFP further notes, and Palestinian plans to become a party to the court have been fervently opposed by both Israel and the United States.
Palestinian leadership hopes that ICC membership will pave the way for war crimes prosecutions against Israeli officials for their actions in the occupied territories.
Israel, however, asserts that "Palestinian crimes" would be exposed to the judgement of the Hague-based court, should the bid succeed.
Islamic-based political party Hamas signed a proposal for Palestinian membership at the ICC, this past August, and is holding Abbas accountable for promises to cut PA security cooperation.
Abbas applies for membership in 20 international treaties including ICC
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday evening signed applications for Palestinian membership in 20 international organizations and treaties, including the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Abbas’s move came in response to the failure of the Palestinian statehood resolution at the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
Earlier, Abbas said that he was determined to pursue his efforts to achieve a Palestinian state despite the failure at the Security Council.
Referring to the decision to join the ICC, Abbas said, “We want to file a complaint against Israel. We are being attacked. Our lands are being attacked every day. Who are we going to complain to? The Security Council has let us down. There’s an international organization and we’re going to it to complain.”
Speaking to Fatah supporters Wednesday afternoon at a rally in Ramallah marking Fatah's 50th inception anniversary, Abbas said: “The Security Council is not the end of the world. Last night’s session was not the end of the journey. We have something to say about this as of tonight. We and our children will continue until we arrive at Jerusalem, the capital of the Palestinian state.”
Earlier, on Tuesday evening, the UN Security Council rejected a Palestinian resolution calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories by 2017.
The statehood bid failed to muster the minimum nine "yes" votes required to pass in the council.
The motion received eight "yes" votes, from China, France, Russia, Argentina, Chad, Chile, Jordan, and Luxembourg. Two member states - US and Australia – opposed while the five other members - UK, Lithuania, Nigeria, Korea, and Rwanda – abstained.
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