Bij mijn weten hebben de Palestijnen nog steeds alleen waarnemerstatus bij de VN, dus het bevreemdt me nogal dat de PA een resolutie kan indienen bij de Veiligheidsraad, maar het zij zo. Het zal me overigens verbazen als de Algemene Vergadering van de VN niet al tig keer de nederzettingen als illegaal heeft veroordeeld, tenminste pro-Palestijnse activisten hameren daar steeds op, dus dan zal het wel zo zijn(?).
Abbas is met geen tien kamelen te bewegen om vredesbesprekingen aan te gaan met Netanjahoe, en ik kan daarom voorstellen dat de VS meent aan die kant weinig medewerking te kunnen verliezen, en aan de andere kant niet ook onnodig de Israelische regering tegen de stugge haren wil instrijken.
De retoriek terzijde, heeft Abbas zich hiermee in het licht van de aangekondigde Palestijnse verkiezingen, mooi kunnen neerzetten als verdediger van de Palestijnse belangen, iets wat hij heel goed kon gebruiken na alle Pali-leaks kritiek.
Voor alle duidelijkheid: van mij mogen alle kleine nederzettingen (doorgaans de meer radikale) meteen worden opgedoekt, en na een vredesakkoord van de grote nederzettingen de helft of zo opgedoekt en de rest (in dat akkoord) uitgewisseld voor andere grond. Maar dan zal er toch eerst stevig onderhandeld moeten worden...
Wouter
_____________
The Jerusalem Post
PA: We'll turn to UN General Assembly to stop settlements
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
02/19/2011 17:38
http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=208925
Palestinians call for "day of rage" to protest against US decision to veto UNSC resolution condemning settlements as illegal.
Palestinians on Saturday called for a "day of rage" next Friday to protest against the US Administration's decision to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israel for building in the settlements.
Expressing outrage over Friday's veto, the Palestinian Authority threatened to reassess its position toward the Middle East peace process. The PA said it was now considering going to the UN General Assembly with a request to issue a similar resolution condemning construction in the settlements.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas came under heavy pressure from the US Administration to withdraw the resolution, but refused to comply, a senior PA official in Ramallah said.
Abbas, meanwhile, was more cautious in his response to the US veto. He told a group of Palestinian academics on that Palestinian diplomacy had scored a real victory after 14 members of the Security Council had voted in favor of the controversial resolution.
He said that the PA had faced immense pressure to withdraw the resolution, but chose to put the interests of the Palestinians above all considerations.
"We are not seeking to boycott the US Administration and it's not in our interest to boycott anyone," Abbas stressed. "But just want to protect the legitimate rights and interests of our people in accordance with international law."
Hamas calls veto 'immoral'
Hamas on Saturday described the US step as an "immoral behavior and a disregard of the international community."
Hamas added in its statement that the veto shows the American administration's bias towards the "occupation."
Hamas urged the Palestinian Authority to stop all forms of security coordination with Israel.
Obama warns Abbas against resolution
US President Barack Obama phoned Abbas hours before the Security Council session on Friday and urged him to withdraw the resolution, which was presented on behalf of the PA by a number of Arab countries, the official said.
In response, Abbas called an emergency meeting of the PLO Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee to discuss what some officials described as Obama's "threats."
The two committees rejected Washington's demand and gave the PA leadership a green light to go ahead and bring the resolution for a vote to the Security Council.
The committees also called on the US to refrain from vetoing the resolution, saying the Palestinians would not succumb to pressure from any party.
PLO Secretary-General Yasser Abed Rabbo said that in addition to Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and some EU leaders also attempted to persuade the PA to withdraw the resolution, but to no avail.
Hanna Amireh, member of the PLO Executive Committee, said that the Palestinian leadership had unanimously rejected US and EU pressure regarding the resolution. He said that the Palestinians were determined to pursue their diplomatic efforts to hold Israel responsible for the failure of the peace talks.
PA leadership organizes street protests in support of position
The PA leadership also organized street protests in support of its position. Dozens of Fatah activists demonstrated in Ramallah, Kalkilya, Hebron and Jenin and condemned the US for being "biased" in favor of Israel.
The protesters hailed Abbas for resisting American pressure to withdraw the resolution against the settlements.
Some Palestinians, including Tawfik Tirawi, a former Fatah security commander, called for organizing a "day of rage" against the US next Friday.
Tirawi said that the veto "exposed America's real face and the extend to which it is biased in favor of oppression and occupation."
In response to reports that the US had threatened to cut off financial aid to the PA if it insisted on presenting the resolution to the Security Council, Fatah spokesman Ahmed Assaf said that the Palestinians "want to get rid of occupation and are not only waiting to earn their living."
The US Administration should support the Palestinians and not block freedom and independence, Assaf said. He added that Fatah was planning more anti-US demonstrations in the West Bank in the coming days.
A statement issued by the Fatah leadership in the West Bank criticized the US Administration for allegedly threatening to cut off financial aid to the Palestinians.
"US threats to cut off the aid shows that that the Americans are ignorant of our people's moral and national values and aspirations," the statement read. "The US veto is a victory for occupation and settlements."
Fatah said that the veto harmed Washington's status as a major broker in the peace process and encourages Israel to continue building in the settlements.
Hamas also condemned the US veto, saying it exposed Washington's bias in favor of Israel.
"The US veto is an award to the occupation government for its violations against the Palestinians," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.
Palestinians call for "day of rage" to protest against US decision to veto UNSC resolution condemning settlements as illegal.
Palestinians on Saturday called for a "day of rage" next Friday to protest against the US Administration's decision to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israel for building in the settlements.
Expressing outrage over Friday's veto, the Palestinian Authority threatened to reassess its position toward the Middle East peace process. The PA said it was now considering going to the UN General Assembly with a request to issue a similar resolution condemning construction in the settlements.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas came under heavy pressure from the US Administration to withdraw the resolution, but refused to comply, a senior PA official in Ramallah said.
Abbas, meanwhile, was more cautious in his response to the US veto. He told a group of Palestinian academics on that Palestinian diplomacy had scored a real victory after 14 members of the Security Council had voted in favor of the controversial resolution.
He said that the PA had faced immense pressure to withdraw the resolution, but chose to put the interests of the Palestinians above all considerations.
"We are not seeking to boycott the US Administration and it's not in our interest to boycott anyone," Abbas stressed. "But just want to protect the legitimate rights and interests of our people in accordance with international law."
Hamas calls veto 'immoral'
Hamas on Saturday described the US step as an "immoral behavior and a disregard of the international community."
Hamas added in its statement that the veto shows the American administration's bias towards the "occupation."
Hamas urged the Palestinian Authority to stop all forms of security coordination with Israel.
Obama warns Abbas against resolution
US President Barack Obama phoned Abbas hours before the Security Council session on Friday and urged him to withdraw the resolution, which was presented on behalf of the PA by a number of Arab countries, the official said.
In response, Abbas called an emergency meeting of the PLO Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee to discuss what some officials described as Obama's "threats."
The two committees rejected Washington's demand and gave the PA leadership a green light to go ahead and bring the resolution for a vote to the Security Council.
The committees also called on the US to refrain from vetoing the resolution, saying the Palestinians would not succumb to pressure from any party.
PLO Secretary-General Yasser Abed Rabbo said that in addition to Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and some EU leaders also attempted to persuade the PA to withdraw the resolution, but to no avail.
Hanna Amireh, member of the PLO Executive Committee, said that the Palestinian leadership had unanimously rejected US and EU pressure regarding the resolution. He said that the Palestinians were determined to pursue their diplomatic efforts to hold Israel responsible for the failure of the peace talks.
PA leadership organizes street protests in support of position
The PA leadership also organized street protests in support of its position. Dozens of Fatah activists demonstrated in Ramallah, Kalkilya, Hebron and Jenin and condemned the US for being "biased" in favor of Israel.
The protesters hailed Abbas for resisting American pressure to withdraw the resolution against the settlements.
Some Palestinians, including Tawfik Tirawi, a former Fatah security commander, called for organizing a "day of rage" against the US next Friday.
Tirawi said that the veto "exposed America's real face and the extend to which it is biased in favor of oppression and occupation."
In response to reports that the US had threatened to cut off financial aid to the PA if it insisted on presenting the resolution to the Security Council, Fatah spokesman Ahmed Assaf said that the Palestinians "want to get rid of occupation and are not only waiting to earn their living."
The US Administration should support the Palestinians and not block freedom and independence, Assaf said. He added that Fatah was planning more anti-US demonstrations in the West Bank in the coming days.
A statement issued by the Fatah leadership in the West Bank criticized the US Administration for allegedly threatening to cut off financial aid to the Palestinians.
"US threats to cut off the aid shows that that the Americans are ignorant of our people's moral and national values and aspirations," the statement read. "The US veto is a victory for occupation and settlements."
Fatah said that the veto harmed Washington's status as a major broker in the peace process and encourages Israel to continue building in the settlements.
Hamas also condemned the US veto, saying it exposed Washington's bias in favor of Israel.
"The US veto is an award to the occupation government for its violations against the Palestinians," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.
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