3 apr 2014
The Israeli Planning and Building Committee is scheduled to discuss Thursday a plan for the establishment of a huge structure to be built at the expense of Palestinian lands in Silwan town southern Al-Aqsa Mosque, Hebrew media sources revealed. Haaretz Hebrew newspaper stated that the right-wing Elad association has submitted the plan that includes the establishment of a massive museum and visitor center complex very close to the walls of the Old City.
The plan was approved in 2009 at the expense of 5460 square meters; however it was then revealed that it was extended to cover an area of 16 thousand square meters.
Meanwhile, Israeli bulldozers demolished on Thursday morning Palestinian mobile homes in Eizariya town in occupied Jerusalem without previous warning under the pretext of being built without a permit.
Local sources confirmed that Israeli bulldozers have demolished three mobile homes and sheds belonging to Palestinian farmers.
The demolished mobile homes were established before the occupation of Jerusalem. The Israeli occupation authorities seek to confiscate more lands in that area as a prelude for the establishment of E-1 project.
The plan was approved in 2009 at the expense of 5460 square meters; however it was then revealed that it was extended to cover an area of 16 thousand square meters.
Meanwhile, Israeli bulldozers demolished on Thursday morning Palestinian mobile homes in Eizariya town in occupied Jerusalem without previous warning under the pretext of being built without a permit.
Local sources confirmed that Israeli bulldozers have demolished three mobile homes and sheds belonging to Palestinian farmers.
The demolished mobile homes were established before the occupation of Jerusalem. The Israeli occupation authorities seek to confiscate more lands in that area as a prelude for the establishment of E-1 project.
Palestinians hold pictures of detainees being held in Israeli prisons since before the 1993 Oslo peace accords as they protest against the postponement of their release outside Ofer prison, near the West Bank town of Betunia, on March 29, 2014
A frustrated US secretary of state demanded Thursday action from recalcitrant Israeli and Palestinian leaders, saying it was time for them to demonstrate leadership in the crisis-hit peace talks.
But John Kerry acknowledged in Algiers that negotiators from the two sides had made "progress" in lengthy overnight talks in Jerusalem, also attended by the Americans.
More than a year of intensive Kerry shuttle diplomacy appeared to be on the brink of collapse this week after Israel announced a fresh wave of settlement tenders and the Palestinians resumed moves to seek international recognition for statehood.
Washington expressed disappointment, describing them as "unhelpful, unilateral actions," but insisted diplomacy still had a chance.
Speaking Thursday morning during a visit to Algeria, Kerry threw down the gauntlet to both sides, telling them it was time for compromise at what he called a "critical moment" in the peace talks.
"You can facilitate, you can push, you can nudge, but the parties themselves have to make fundamental decisions to compromise," he said, showing clear signs of frustration.
"The leaders have to lead, and they have to be able to see a moment when it's there," he added, showing signs of frustration after his months-long peace efforts appeared to be in tatters.
'Progress, but gap remains'
But he said negotiators had made progress in trying to chart a path forward during a meeting that ran until 4:00 a.m.
"There is still a gap and that gap needs to close fairly soon," he said.
Ahead of the talks among US special envoy Martin Indyk, chief Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni and her Palestinian counterpart, Saeb Erekat, Kerry had spoken by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas, a US official said.
Kerry said he would speak to both leaders again on Thursday.
"We are urging them to find the compromise that is critical to being able to move forward," he said. "The fight right now, the disagreement.. (is over) what you need to do in order to be able to continue to negotiate."
The current crisis was triggered by Israel's refusal to release 26 Palestinian prisoners at the weekend.
In response, Ramallah formally requested accession to several international treaties in a bid to unilaterally further the Palestinian statehood claim.
Each side accused the other of violating undertakings given when the current talks were launched under Kerry's sponsorship last July.
And the moves dealt a hammer blow to Kerry's frenetic efforts to broker an extension of the negotiations beyond their original April 29 deadline.
Despite the treaty move, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki insisted that Abbas remained committed to the US peace efforts.
"This action does not detract from the importance of negotiations. We are still committed to these talks," he said Wednesday after presenting the request on the treaties.
UN Middle East peace envoy Robert Serry confirmed receiving the requests, with a spokesman for the secretary general saying they would review them to consider the "appropriate next steps."
The first treaty the Palestinians applied to was the Fourth Geneva Convention, which holds huge symbolic importance as it provides the legal basis of their rejection of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of settler housing units and its army has killed over 60 Palestinians and injured hundreds in the West Bank and Gaza since the negotiations began.
The Israeli government has also insisted that it maintain a military and civilian presence in the occupied Jordan Valley, which forms around a third of the West Bank, and has insisted that the PLO recognize it as a "Jewish state," despite having already officially recognized Israel decades earlier.
A frustrated US secretary of state demanded Thursday action from recalcitrant Israeli and Palestinian leaders, saying it was time for them to demonstrate leadership in the crisis-hit peace talks.
But John Kerry acknowledged in Algiers that negotiators from the two sides had made "progress" in lengthy overnight talks in Jerusalem, also attended by the Americans.
More than a year of intensive Kerry shuttle diplomacy appeared to be on the brink of collapse this week after Israel announced a fresh wave of settlement tenders and the Palestinians resumed moves to seek international recognition for statehood.
Washington expressed disappointment, describing them as "unhelpful, unilateral actions," but insisted diplomacy still had a chance.
Speaking Thursday morning during a visit to Algeria, Kerry threw down the gauntlet to both sides, telling them it was time for compromise at what he called a "critical moment" in the peace talks.
"You can facilitate, you can push, you can nudge, but the parties themselves have to make fundamental decisions to compromise," he said, showing clear signs of frustration.
"The leaders have to lead, and they have to be able to see a moment when it's there," he added, showing signs of frustration after his months-long peace efforts appeared to be in tatters.
'Progress, but gap remains'
But he said negotiators had made progress in trying to chart a path forward during a meeting that ran until 4:00 a.m.
"There is still a gap and that gap needs to close fairly soon," he said.
Ahead of the talks among US special envoy Martin Indyk, chief Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni and her Palestinian counterpart, Saeb Erekat, Kerry had spoken by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas, a US official said.
Kerry said he would speak to both leaders again on Thursday.
"We are urging them to find the compromise that is critical to being able to move forward," he said. "The fight right now, the disagreement.. (is over) what you need to do in order to be able to continue to negotiate."
The current crisis was triggered by Israel's refusal to release 26 Palestinian prisoners at the weekend.
In response, Ramallah formally requested accession to several international treaties in a bid to unilaterally further the Palestinian statehood claim.
Each side accused the other of violating undertakings given when the current talks were launched under Kerry's sponsorship last July.
And the moves dealt a hammer blow to Kerry's frenetic efforts to broker an extension of the negotiations beyond their original April 29 deadline.
Despite the treaty move, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki insisted that Abbas remained committed to the US peace efforts.
"This action does not detract from the importance of negotiations. We are still committed to these talks," he said Wednesday after presenting the request on the treaties.
UN Middle East peace envoy Robert Serry confirmed receiving the requests, with a spokesman for the secretary general saying they would review them to consider the "appropriate next steps."
The first treaty the Palestinians applied to was the Fourth Geneva Convention, which holds huge symbolic importance as it provides the legal basis of their rejection of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of settler housing units and its army has killed over 60 Palestinians and injured hundreds in the West Bank and Gaza since the negotiations began.
The Israeli government has also insisted that it maintain a military and civilian presence in the occupied Jordan Valley, which forms around a third of the West Bank, and has insisted that the PLO recognize it as a "Jewish state," despite having already officially recognized Israel decades earlier.
A long and heated meeting between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in Jerusalem ended early Thursday without any signs of bringing both sides back to the negotiating table.
Palestinian sources told Ma'an that the nine-hour meeting with US Special Envoy Martin Indyk was attended by PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat, Head of Palestinian intelligence Majid Faraj, and Israeli negotiators Tzipi Livni and Yitzhak Molcho.
The sources described the meeting as a "fierce political battle", with Martin Indyk struggling to control heated exchanges between both sides.
Erekat reportedly told the Israeli side that "we are here to negotiate in the name of the UN-recognized State of Palestine, not in the name of a Palestinian Authority whose inputs and outputs are controlled by Israel."
Israeli negotiators responded by threatening to put "endless" sanctions on the Palestinians, the sources said.
During the heated exchanges, US special envoy Martin Indyk reiterated his support for Israel's security.
Majid Faraj responded by stressing that the Palestinians were there for "political, not security" talks and to negotiate about Jerusalem as the future capital of an independent Palestinian state.
Erekat responded to Israeli threats of sanctions by saying the PLO would go after Israeli officials as "war criminals" in international institutions.
US Secretary of State John Kerry phoned President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday as peace talks appeared to have reached an impasse over Israel's refusal to free prisoners.
A day earlier, Abbas said he had begun steps to join several UN agencies and ratify international treaties after Israel failed to release a final group of pre-Oslo Palestinian prisoners.
The announcement was a blow to Kerry's frenetic efforts to resolve the dispute over Palestinian prisoners and find a way to extend the fragile peace talks beyond a looming April 29 deadline.
In July, the PLO agreed to postpone accession to international bodies in exchange for the release of 104 Palestinians prisoners jailed before the Oslo Accords.
"Since Israel failed to release the last group of prisoners, the State of Palestine is no longer obliged to postpone its rights to accede to multilateral treaties and conventions," the PLO said in a statement Wednesday.
"Despite the escalation of oppressive Israeli policies such as the killing of Palestinian civilians, settlement construction, raids on vulnerable communities, arbitrary arrests and detentions, home demolitions and the removal of residency rights, we remained committed to the negotiations process and supported US efforts," it added.
Palestinian sources told Ma'an that the nine-hour meeting with US Special Envoy Martin Indyk was attended by PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat, Head of Palestinian intelligence Majid Faraj, and Israeli negotiators Tzipi Livni and Yitzhak Molcho.
The sources described the meeting as a "fierce political battle", with Martin Indyk struggling to control heated exchanges between both sides.
Erekat reportedly told the Israeli side that "we are here to negotiate in the name of the UN-recognized State of Palestine, not in the name of a Palestinian Authority whose inputs and outputs are controlled by Israel."
Israeli negotiators responded by threatening to put "endless" sanctions on the Palestinians, the sources said.
During the heated exchanges, US special envoy Martin Indyk reiterated his support for Israel's security.
Majid Faraj responded by stressing that the Palestinians were there for "political, not security" talks and to negotiate about Jerusalem as the future capital of an independent Palestinian state.
Erekat responded to Israeli threats of sanctions by saying the PLO would go after Israeli officials as "war criminals" in international institutions.
US Secretary of State John Kerry phoned President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday as peace talks appeared to have reached an impasse over Israel's refusal to free prisoners.
A day earlier, Abbas said he had begun steps to join several UN agencies and ratify international treaties after Israel failed to release a final group of pre-Oslo Palestinian prisoners.
The announcement was a blow to Kerry's frenetic efforts to resolve the dispute over Palestinian prisoners and find a way to extend the fragile peace talks beyond a looming April 29 deadline.
In July, the PLO agreed to postpone accession to international bodies in exchange for the release of 104 Palestinians prisoners jailed before the Oslo Accords.
"Since Israel failed to release the last group of prisoners, the State of Palestine is no longer obliged to postpone its rights to accede to multilateral treaties and conventions," the PLO said in a statement Wednesday.
"Despite the escalation of oppressive Israeli policies such as the killing of Palestinian civilians, settlement construction, raids on vulnerable communities, arbitrary arrests and detentions, home demolitions and the removal of residency rights, we remained committed to the negotiations process and supported US efforts," it added.
Palestine could join up to 550 international treaties and conventions including the International Criminal Court, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN said Wednesday.
Ibrahim Khraishi told Ma'an that the 15 applications submitted on Wednesday would take three to four months for approval.
“These conventions don't have US funding like other organizations such as the World Health Organization which receives $720 million annually, So, its members will not be financially blackmailed,” Khraishi said.
He added that the US did not make any negative statements on the applications so far. Khraishi highlighted that he would meet the US ambassador in Switzerland on Thursday to discuss the issue.
There are a few organizations that require General Assembly approval in addition to an internal majority of votes, he noted.
Letters of accession for 15 international multilateral treaties and conventions were handed to the relevant parties on Wednesday after being signed by President Mahmoud Abbas a day earlier, Palestinian officials said.
"I presented the letters signed by Abbas this morning to UN special envoy Robert Serry, as well as to the representatives of the Netherlands and Switzerland," Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki said.
He said the Palestinians had begun the "technical process" required to obtain membership of some 15 international conventions and covenants, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
"This action does not detract from the importance of negotiations. We are still committed to these talks," he said.
In July, the PLO agreed to postpone accession to international bodies in exchange for the release of 104 Palestinians prisoners jailed before the Oslo Accords.
"Since Israel failed to release the last group of prisoners, the State of Palestine is no longer obliged to postpone its rights to accede to multilateral treaties and conventions," the PLO said in a statement Wednesday.
"Despite the escalation of oppressive Israeli policies such as the killing of Palestinian civilians, settlement construction, raids on vulnerable communities, arbitrary arrests and detentions, home demolitions and the removal of residency rights, we remained committed to the negotiations process and supported US efforts," it added.
Earlier, Israeli Tourism Minster Uzi Landau warned of punitive action if the PLO pursued efforts to join UN agencies and threatened that Israel could annex territory in the occupied West Bank in response.
Israel could also hurt the Palestinians economically by acting "to block financial aid to them," the minister added.
Ibrahim Khraishi told Ma'an that the 15 applications submitted on Wednesday would take three to four months for approval.
“These conventions don't have US funding like other organizations such as the World Health Organization which receives $720 million annually, So, its members will not be financially blackmailed,” Khraishi said.
He added that the US did not make any negative statements on the applications so far. Khraishi highlighted that he would meet the US ambassador in Switzerland on Thursday to discuss the issue.
There are a few organizations that require General Assembly approval in addition to an internal majority of votes, he noted.
Letters of accession for 15 international multilateral treaties and conventions were handed to the relevant parties on Wednesday after being signed by President Mahmoud Abbas a day earlier, Palestinian officials said.
"I presented the letters signed by Abbas this morning to UN special envoy Robert Serry, as well as to the representatives of the Netherlands and Switzerland," Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki said.
He said the Palestinians had begun the "technical process" required to obtain membership of some 15 international conventions and covenants, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
"This action does not detract from the importance of negotiations. We are still committed to these talks," he said.
In July, the PLO agreed to postpone accession to international bodies in exchange for the release of 104 Palestinians prisoners jailed before the Oslo Accords.
"Since Israel failed to release the last group of prisoners, the State of Palestine is no longer obliged to postpone its rights to accede to multilateral treaties and conventions," the PLO said in a statement Wednesday.
"Despite the escalation of oppressive Israeli policies such as the killing of Palestinian civilians, settlement construction, raids on vulnerable communities, arbitrary arrests and detentions, home demolitions and the removal of residency rights, we remained committed to the negotiations process and supported US efforts," it added.
Earlier, Israeli Tourism Minster Uzi Landau warned of punitive action if the PLO pursued efforts to join UN agencies and threatened that Israel could annex territory in the occupied West Bank in response.
Israel could also hurt the Palestinians economically by acting "to block financial aid to them," the minister added.
The Washington Post and New York Times papers have quoted on Wednesday US senior officials as saying that Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts have reached their limit and that the Palestinian-Israeli authorities need to work their way out of the current impasse. US senior officials stated that Kerry has failed to persuade either to budge from widely divergent positions. The Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard’s possible release looks like a way to buy time and avoid admitting defeat, according to the Washington Post.
A senior American official said, "Kerry’s decision not to return to the region immediately reflected a growing impatience in the White House, which believes that his mediating efforts have reached their limit and that the two sides need to work their way out of the current impasse."
The two American papers expressed dissatisfaction over investing Pollard's release so deeply in the negotiation process.
The obvious question is why the United States is in the position of offering its own concessions rather than brokering compromise between the two parties that are supposed to be negotiating, Washington Post wondered.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has canceled a planned return to the region on Wednesday, in which he had expected to complete an agreement extending negotiations after Israeli authorities refused to release a fourth batch of long-serving Palestinian detainees by the end of March, as promised.
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has signed in a meeting in PA headquarters in Ramallah demands to join 15 international agencies.
Abbas' decision came following the Israeli government's approval to establish 708 new housing units in occupied Jerusalem.
A senior American official said, "Kerry’s decision not to return to the region immediately reflected a growing impatience in the White House, which believes that his mediating efforts have reached their limit and that the two sides need to work their way out of the current impasse."
The two American papers expressed dissatisfaction over investing Pollard's release so deeply in the negotiation process.
The obvious question is why the United States is in the position of offering its own concessions rather than brokering compromise between the two parties that are supposed to be negotiating, Washington Post wondered.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has canceled a planned return to the region on Wednesday, in which he had expected to complete an agreement extending negotiations after Israeli authorities refused to release a fourth batch of long-serving Palestinian detainees by the end of March, as promised.
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has signed in a meeting in PA headquarters in Ramallah demands to join 15 international agencies.
Abbas' decision came following the Israeli government's approval to establish 708 new housing units in occupied Jerusalem.
“Better late than never” was Gaza government’s way to approve PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s decision to apply for membership in 15 UN-affiliated organizations, despite its belated timing. “We were expecting Abbas to announce the end of negotiations especially that the Israeli government is dragging its feet,” Gaza government spokesman Ihab Al-Ghussain said in a press release on Wednesday.
Ghussain called attention to the importance of approving a national strategy based on rejecting negotiations and endorsing resistance as “the sole means of dealing with this occupier”.
Abbas signed an application for membership in 15 UN-affiliated organizations earlier Wednesday, which came right after Israel’s reluctance to release a fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners.
Ghussain called attention to the importance of approving a national strategy based on rejecting negotiations and endorsing resistance as “the sole means of dealing with this occupier”.
Abbas signed an application for membership in 15 UN-affiliated organizations earlier Wednesday, which came right after Israel’s reluctance to release a fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners.
A settlement watchdog group says Israel is pushing forward with plans to build more than 700 homes in a (Jewish enclave) of east Jerusalem. The move could present another obstacle in the deeply troubled Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Hagit Ofran from Peace Now says Israel renewed a call for contractor bids to build the homes this week.
Ofran said Wednesday that Israel's reissuing of 708 tenders was meant to "make problems" in the faltering Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Those talks suffered yet another setback this week as Secretary of State John Kerry cancelled plans to return to the region after Israeli and Palestinian leaders made it clear no diplomatic breakthrough was near on the horizon.
Israel was supposed to release 26 Palestinian prisoners this past weekend, but asked for an extension on the deadline.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas balked at the request and resumed a campaign for further international recognition of a state of Palestine, despite a promise to suspend such efforts.
The claim about further construction in east Jerusalem - which Palestinians want to be the capital of a future Palestinian state -- came amid speculation that the U.S. was discussing a deal to entice Israel into making greater concessions in the dialogue with Palestinians by setting free a man convicted of spying for the (Jewish state) who has been held in a U.S. prison for 29 years.
Israel has long sought the release of former U.S. Navy intelligence officer Jonathan Pollard, who leaked classified documents to Israel in 1985.
Asked Tuesday in Brussels by CBS News' Margaret Brennan whether the U.S. had offered to release Pollard early, Secretary of State John Kerry said, there was "no agreement at this point in time regarding anyone or any specific steps. There are a lot of different possibilities in play."
CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk said the cancellation of Kerry's visit to the Middle East does not necessarily mean the talks are off.
"Negotiations are on when everyone is putting more on the table," she explained, noting that both sides did at least seem interested in discussing possible ways forward. "But the Middle East is always difficult."
Brennan reported that Kerry was making calls Wednesday to Mideast negotiators who are trying to revive the process. With more than a dozen trips to the region in the past months, Kerry remains committed but appears no closer to a deal than any of his predecessors.
Hagit Ofran from Peace Now says Israel renewed a call for contractor bids to build the homes this week.
Ofran said Wednesday that Israel's reissuing of 708 tenders was meant to "make problems" in the faltering Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Those talks suffered yet another setback this week as Secretary of State John Kerry cancelled plans to return to the region after Israeli and Palestinian leaders made it clear no diplomatic breakthrough was near on the horizon.
Israel was supposed to release 26 Palestinian prisoners this past weekend, but asked for an extension on the deadline.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas balked at the request and resumed a campaign for further international recognition of a state of Palestine, despite a promise to suspend such efforts.
The claim about further construction in east Jerusalem - which Palestinians want to be the capital of a future Palestinian state -- came amid speculation that the U.S. was discussing a deal to entice Israel into making greater concessions in the dialogue with Palestinians by setting free a man convicted of spying for the (Jewish state) who has been held in a U.S. prison for 29 years.
Israel has long sought the release of former U.S. Navy intelligence officer Jonathan Pollard, who leaked classified documents to Israel in 1985.
Asked Tuesday in Brussels by CBS News' Margaret Brennan whether the U.S. had offered to release Pollard early, Secretary of State John Kerry said, there was "no agreement at this point in time regarding anyone or any specific steps. There are a lot of different possibilities in play."
CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk said the cancellation of Kerry's visit to the Middle East does not necessarily mean the talks are off.
"Negotiations are on when everyone is putting more on the table," she explained, noting that both sides did at least seem interested in discussing possible ways forward. "But the Middle East is always difficult."
Brennan reported that Kerry was making calls Wednesday to Mideast negotiators who are trying to revive the process. With more than a dozen trips to the region in the past months, Kerry remains committed but appears no closer to a deal than any of his predecessors.
On Tuesday 1st April, following a unanimous decision by the Palestinian leadership, including the PLO Executive Committee President Mahmoud Abbas signed letters of accession to 15 multilateral treaties and conventions, an ability which Palestine gained following its upgrade to Observer State status by the UN General Assembly in November 2012.
How are these letters of accession linked to the negotiations process?
In July 2013, the PLO took the difficult decision to postpone accession to multilateral treaties and conventions in exchange for the release of 104 pre-Oslo prisoners in four stages. In fact, release of pre-Oslo prisoners is a commitment Israel had already made 20 years ago as part of the Palestinian Israeli interim accords (Oslo accords), again in 1999 through the Sharm al-Sheikh Agreement and a third time at the beginning of this negotiations process.
The release of prisoners was not formally linked to the negotiations process.
The fourth and final release of 30 prisoners was set to take place on March 29th 2014. As Israeli officials indicated that Israel would not go through with the release, the PLO requested that the US administration ensure that Israel fulfill its commitment. Since Israel failed to release the last group of prisoners, the State of Palestine is no longer obliged to postpone its rights to accede to multilateral treaties and conventions.
The 9 months is not over yet. Doesn't this mean the Palestinians are breaking their commitment?
No, this does not mean that negotiations process is over. President Abbas made this point clear during his announcement on Tuesday April 1st. Indeed, the PLO remains committed to this 9 month process, which ends on April 29. Despite the escalation of oppressive Israeli policies such as the killing of Palestinian civilians, settlement construction, raids on vulnerable communities, arbitrary arrests and detentions, home demolitions and the removal of residency rights, we remained committed to the negotiations process and supported US efforts.
Which treaties and conventions did President Abbas sign?
President Abbas signed letters of accession to the following 15 multilateral treaties and conventions. These treaties and conventions will help to protect and promote basic rights of the Palestinian people and will enable the State of Palestine to be a responsible actor on the international stage:
The Four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the First Additional Protocol
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
The Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in armed conflict
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
The Hague Convention (IV) respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land and its annex: Regulations Concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The United Nations Convention against Corruption
The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
The International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
What happens now?
The letters of accession have been handed over to the relevant parties.
There are a total of 63 treaties, conventions and agencies that the State of Palestine has the ability to join and will do so in the best interests of its people, as and when it sees fit. This is a right that all UN member and Observer states have.
Isn't this just a unilateral step so the Palestinians can reject an agreement?
No. This is the fulfilment of Palestine's right and has nothing to do with negotiations or the reaching of an agreement. As President Abbas expressed during the announcement, the Palestinian position remains unchanged. The PLO seeks to achieve an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital with a just solution to the refugee issue based on UN General Assembly resolution 194. It will use all legal means to achieve this, including negotiations and peaceful popular resistance.
Doesn't this undermine US and international efforts?
No. The Palestine is not seeking to clash with anyone. The tools it uses are legitimate and non-violent. The PLO bases its action on international law and the fulfilment of the long overdue and inalienable rights of its people.
These treaties are vital to continued Palestinian institutional building, good governance and the upholding of human rights, all of which form the basis for an independent and sovereign State of Palestine. Palestine will pursue this non-violent track, including all possible diplomatic venues, in a way which serves the best interests of its people and the cause of a just peace.
On the other hand, Israeli actions, including unrelenting settlement construction during this entire process, has undermined US and international efforts.
What does this mean for the peace process? Are the negotiations over?
No. The PLO is committed to negotiations until the 29th April, as agreed.
The Israeli government needs understand that negotiations are a non-violent tool to achieve peace rather than a smoke screen behind which it can continue its violations of human rights, further its settlement enterprise, and make the two-state solution increasingly impossible.
How are these letters of accession linked to the negotiations process?
In July 2013, the PLO took the difficult decision to postpone accession to multilateral treaties and conventions in exchange for the release of 104 pre-Oslo prisoners in four stages. In fact, release of pre-Oslo prisoners is a commitment Israel had already made 20 years ago as part of the Palestinian Israeli interim accords (Oslo accords), again in 1999 through the Sharm al-Sheikh Agreement and a third time at the beginning of this negotiations process.
The release of prisoners was not formally linked to the negotiations process.
The fourth and final release of 30 prisoners was set to take place on March 29th 2014. As Israeli officials indicated that Israel would not go through with the release, the PLO requested that the US administration ensure that Israel fulfill its commitment. Since Israel failed to release the last group of prisoners, the State of Palestine is no longer obliged to postpone its rights to accede to multilateral treaties and conventions.
The 9 months is not over yet. Doesn't this mean the Palestinians are breaking their commitment?
No, this does not mean that negotiations process is over. President Abbas made this point clear during his announcement on Tuesday April 1st. Indeed, the PLO remains committed to this 9 month process, which ends on April 29. Despite the escalation of oppressive Israeli policies such as the killing of Palestinian civilians, settlement construction, raids on vulnerable communities, arbitrary arrests and detentions, home demolitions and the removal of residency rights, we remained committed to the negotiations process and supported US efforts.
Which treaties and conventions did President Abbas sign?
President Abbas signed letters of accession to the following 15 multilateral treaties and conventions. These treaties and conventions will help to protect and promote basic rights of the Palestinian people and will enable the State of Palestine to be a responsible actor on the international stage:
The Four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the First Additional Protocol
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
The Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in armed conflict
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
The Hague Convention (IV) respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land and its annex: Regulations Concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The United Nations Convention against Corruption
The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
The International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
What happens now?
The letters of accession have been handed over to the relevant parties.
There are a total of 63 treaties, conventions and agencies that the State of Palestine has the ability to join and will do so in the best interests of its people, as and when it sees fit. This is a right that all UN member and Observer states have.
Isn't this just a unilateral step so the Palestinians can reject an agreement?
No. This is the fulfilment of Palestine's right and has nothing to do with negotiations or the reaching of an agreement. As President Abbas expressed during the announcement, the Palestinian position remains unchanged. The PLO seeks to achieve an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital with a just solution to the refugee issue based on UN General Assembly resolution 194. It will use all legal means to achieve this, including negotiations and peaceful popular resistance.
Doesn't this undermine US and international efforts?
No. The Palestine is not seeking to clash with anyone. The tools it uses are legitimate and non-violent. The PLO bases its action on international law and the fulfilment of the long overdue and inalienable rights of its people.
These treaties are vital to continued Palestinian institutional building, good governance and the upholding of human rights, all of which form the basis for an independent and sovereign State of Palestine. Palestine will pursue this non-violent track, including all possible diplomatic venues, in a way which serves the best interests of its people and the cause of a just peace.
On the other hand, Israeli actions, including unrelenting settlement construction during this entire process, has undermined US and international efforts.
What does this mean for the peace process? Are the negotiations over?
No. The PLO is committed to negotiations until the 29th April, as agreed.
The Israeli government needs understand that negotiations are a non-violent tool to achieve peace rather than a smoke screen behind which it can continue its violations of human rights, further its settlement enterprise, and make the two-state solution increasingly impossible.
After the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry refused to attend a meeting, Wednesday, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, thus stalling the so-called 'peace negotiations' that began last year, Kerry called the Palestinian President in an attempt to continue the talks by phone.
Kerry's decision to cancel his meeting with Abbas followed the announcement, Tuesday, by Abbas, that he would pursue Palestinian membership in 15 UN bodies.
At the beginning of the peace talks, Secretary of State Kerry had proclaimed that they would be successfully completed by April 2014 – a claim that long-term followers of the past negotiations scoffed at. Now that the deadline has arrived, many political analysts say that the 'peace negotiations' are essentially dead.
After Kerry's rebuke of the Palestinian President, a number of U.S. media outlets followed suit, including the New York Times, which posted the headline "Abbas Takes Defiant Step, and Mideast Talks Falter."
Abbas decided to go to the United Nations after Israel failed to deliver on its promise of releasing the last of four groups of political prisoners, as agreed upon during the negotiations. President Abbas had repeatedly told Israel that he would pursue statehood at the United Nations if they failed to deliver on the promised release of prisoners, so his announcement on Tuesday was not unexpected.
In addition to failing to release the prisoners, Israel repeatedly violated the previous signed agreements while the peace talks were underway.
Mike Coogan of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation told Common Dreams news service, "Since this so-called peace process started, Israel has increased construction of settlements -- which are illegal under international law -- continued destruction of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Israel itself; confiscated Palestinian land; and responded to weekly protests against these things with violent measures."
He added, "It's disingenuous for the U.S. to place blame on Palestinians when, according to its own former negotiators, the U.S. is acting like Israel's lawyer and providing Israel with $3.1 billion in weapons that are being used against Palestinians."
The Palestinian negotiating team told Palestinian news agencies on Wednesday that they would meet with US special envoy Martin Indyk, along with Israeli negotiators, on Wednesday night, in a last ditch effort to stop the talks from collapsing.
Kerry's decision to cancel his meeting with Abbas followed the announcement, Tuesday, by Abbas, that he would pursue Palestinian membership in 15 UN bodies.
At the beginning of the peace talks, Secretary of State Kerry had proclaimed that they would be successfully completed by April 2014 – a claim that long-term followers of the past negotiations scoffed at. Now that the deadline has arrived, many political analysts say that the 'peace negotiations' are essentially dead.
After Kerry's rebuke of the Palestinian President, a number of U.S. media outlets followed suit, including the New York Times, which posted the headline "Abbas Takes Defiant Step, and Mideast Talks Falter."
Abbas decided to go to the United Nations after Israel failed to deliver on its promise of releasing the last of four groups of political prisoners, as agreed upon during the negotiations. President Abbas had repeatedly told Israel that he would pursue statehood at the United Nations if they failed to deliver on the promised release of prisoners, so his announcement on Tuesday was not unexpected.
In addition to failing to release the prisoners, Israel repeatedly violated the previous signed agreements while the peace talks were underway.
Mike Coogan of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation told Common Dreams news service, "Since this so-called peace process started, Israel has increased construction of settlements -- which are illegal under international law -- continued destruction of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Israel itself; confiscated Palestinian land; and responded to weekly protests against these things with violent measures."
He added, "It's disingenuous for the U.S. to place blame on Palestinians when, according to its own former negotiators, the U.S. is acting like Israel's lawyer and providing Israel with $3.1 billion in weapons that are being used against Palestinians."
The Palestinian negotiating team told Palestinian news agencies on Wednesday that they would meet with US special envoy Martin Indyk, along with Israeli negotiators, on Wednesday night, in a last ditch effort to stop the talks from collapsing.
