Riyad al-Maliki, foreign affairs minister of the Palestinian National Authority, said that Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas Abu Mazen is to address the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23.
And in the statements he made on Aug. 31, al-Maliki added that only two more countries need to recognize Palestine so that it can get two-thirds of the votes of the General Assembly’s 193 member states.
In this respect, Uzi Landau, Israel’s minister of national infrastructure, said that agreements held with Palestine would be null and void if Palestine is internationally recognized in September. Then, Israel will have to control the Jordan Valley, bigger settlements and even farther than that!
Amid all these, Arabil-Kol Israel (Saut Israel radio) quoted an Israeli politician saying that the PNA’s decision to get U.N. membership is a lethal strategic mistake. It will also end negotiations with Israel in a decisive way.
The Israeli politician stressed as well that Israel did not and will not make any snap decisions regarding Palestinian intentions, pointing out, at the same time, that all scenarios are studied and the Israeli response will be compatible with status quo developments, after the tides turn.
Moreover, the Israeli politician claimed that Palestinian officials cannot ever rule a newly independent country, either in the economic on security fields, without seeking the help of Israel. Evidently, there are many in Palestine and the Arab world who oppose Palestinian actions. Besides, and according to the same source, steps have been taken behind the scenes with Arab parties to increase pressure on Palestine.
On a separate note, Yuval Steinitz, finance minister of Israel, rejected a Palestinian request to make an early transfer of 380 million shekels to the PNA with the aim of paying salaries before Eid Al-Fitr (Islam’s Lesser Bairam) comes.
Despite recommendations of competent authorities in the Ministry of Finance, Department of the Army and work coordinators to take these sums from tax revenues as a gesture of goodwill toward Palestinians, Steinitz insisted upon abiding by normal, pre-established plans, according to Arabil-Kol Israel.
As a matter of fact, the Israeli minister of finance believes that Palestinians are trying to legitimize the presence of their country with no returns for Israel, without gaining any peace and security benefits and without wrapping up conflicts or closing the file of Palestinian refugees’ return rights.
On his part, Landau made threats to the PNA that Israel would cancel all sealed agreements if a decision is passed in the U.N. to recognize Palestine as an independent member state.
In the report released on its website, Israel’s English daily Jerusalem Post mentioned that Landau reiterated what the Israeli minister of foreign affairs declared during the past few weeks regarding Israel’s obligation to sever all relationships with the Palestinian National Authority.
Israel’s minister of national infrastructure stressed that if the U.N. passed a resolution to recognize Palestine as a member state, chances of holding peace negotiations will recede, possibly for many years.
Simultaneously, Israel’s oldest daily newspaper Haaretz stated on Aug. 31 that Victoria Nuland, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, criticized a bill submitted by House Foreign Affairs chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, aiming to cut funds allocated for pro-Palestine U.N. groups that may help Palestine assume a lofty position in the U.N.
Haaretz mentioned in the report published on its website that Nuland warned that the “cutting” procedure would demolish the American role on the international scene, as well as weakening the U.N. as a tool for consolidating the U.S.’ national security goals.
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