Palestinian leader announces end of all agreements with Israel, US
Jerusalem, May 19 (efe-epa).- Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared Tuesday the end of all agreements with Israel and the United States, citing the threat of the annexation of areas of the West Bank.
The statement came after the formation of a new Israeli government and its official consideration of the annexation of parts of the West Bank, with the apparent support of the US.
“The Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine are absolved, as of today, of all the agreements and understandings with the American and Israeli governments and of all the obligations based on these understandings and agreements, including the security ones,” the president said at an emergency meeting in Ramallah, as published by the state news agency Wafa.
Abbas told Israel that it would now have “to shoulder all responsibilities and obligations in front of the international community as an occupying power over the territory of the occupied state of Palestine, with all its consequences and repercussions based on international law and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.”
This, he said, establishes responsibilities for the protection of the civilian population under occupation and its property, criminalizes collective punishment, bans theft of resources, annexation of land and forced transfers of population from the territory of the occupier to the occupied, “which all are grave violations and war crimes.”
Abbas reiterated his rejection of the US peace proposal and condemned its decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognize the city as the Israeli capital.
He also insisted on June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, “a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.”
On Monday the European Union urged the new government of Israel to comply with international law and said it would not recognize the unilateral annexation of the West Bank.
“The EU and its Member States recall that they will not recognize any changes to the 1967 borders unless agreed by Israelis and Palestinians. The two-state solution, with Jerusalem as the future capital for both States, is the only way to ensure sustainable peace and stability in the region,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement.
“We strongly urge Israel to refrain from any unilateral decision that would lead to the annexation of any occupied Palestinian territory and would be, as such, contrary to International Law,” he added. EFE-EPA
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