PLO mulls limiting ties with Israel

Source: Xinhua| 2018-07-04 21:41:40|Editor: Shi Yinglun
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RAMALLAH, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) revealed on Wednesday that it is considering redefining ties with Israel, accusing Israel of reneging on signed agreements.

"We are studying the Palestinian National Council (PNC)'s call for defining Israel-Palestine relations in security, economically and politically," said Saeb Erekat, Secretary-General of the PLO.

PNC is considered the highest legislative body in the PLO.

Erekat said it is time for Netanyahu to "shoulder his responsibility as the occupying power in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem."

"The current situation is not sustainable and will not be sustainable," he added.

He condemned that the U.S. President Donald Trump administration encouraged Israeli government to "announce the settlements activities, consider settlements as legal, refuse to say two-state solution, cut the aid for the Palestinians, and declare that the PLO is a terrorist organization."

"All these instruments of pressure on us from the Trump administration is part of what they call the deal of the century in order to have the Palestinians capitulate and accept the dictations of the Americans and the Israelis," said Erekat.

Erekat slashed that the recent Israeli decision to seize part of Palestinian tax revenues for families of Palestinian prisoners or those injured or killed by Israel is a "tantamount to the destruction of the Palestinian state."

In a late vote on Monday night, the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) passed a new bill with 87 in favor and 15 against, allowing Israeli authorities to deduct millions of U.S. dollars from the Palestinian tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA on goods entering through the Israeli controlled ports.

The amount of customs revenues is over 120 million dollars monthly, while the deducted amount would be about 32 million dollars per month.

Erekat also stated that the PA is ready to go to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to hold the U.S. accountable for its decisions on Jerusalem and refugees. 

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