Updated PA Resolution Demands Israeli Withdrawal by 2017

Evidently Kerry doesn’t have a problem with this resolution provided it doesn’t heighten tensions. Whatever happened to no unilateral moves or direct negotiations only,

By Ben Ariel, INN

unscUN Security Council

The Palestinian Authority (PA) is giving Israel another year to withdraw from Judea and Samaria than originally reported, according to the updated text of the draft resolution the PA submitted to the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday.

The text, seen by AFP, calls for Israel to “end the occupation” – that is, to withdraw from Judea and Samaria – by 2017, instead of 2016 in the original text that was published back in October.

The draft resolution would set a 12-month deadline for wrapping up negotiations on a final settlement and the end of 2017 as the time frame for completing an Israeli withdrawal from Judea and Samaria.

The resolution calls for a “just, lasting and comprehensive peace solution that brings an end to the Israeli occupation” and “fulfills the vision” of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the shared capital, according to excerpts quoted byAFP.

The final settlement should be reached no later than 12 months after theadoption of the resolution, the text says.

The measure also provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal from Judea and Samaria according to a timeframe “not to exceed the end of 2017”, a provision that is likely to run into opposition from the United States.

While the United States has yet to officially announce whether it will veto the resolution at the Security Council, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with PA chief negotiator Saeb Erekat in London on Tuesday, where he reportedly promised to veto the resolution.

On Wednesday, Kerry said Washington would not have a problem with the PA’s resolution, but only if it avoids exacerbating tensions in the region.

“We don’t have any problem with them filing some resolution, providing it’s done in the spirit of working with people to see how we could proceed forward in a thoughtful way that solves the problem, doesn’t make it worse,” Kerry told reporters, according to AFP.

He acknowledged, however, that he had yet to examine the updated text of the draft resolution.

The PA’s envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour, told reporters earlier Wednesday there could still be negotiations on the text.

Mansour thanked Arabs and European nations for their help with the draft resolution, which was submitted to the Security Council by Jordan, and indicated he would not press for a quick vote on the text, to allow for more discussion.

 

December 18, 2014 | 1 Comment »

Subscribe to Israpundit Daily Digest

Leave a Reply

1 Comment / 1 Comment

  1. State Department said Pals text not acceptable. Strongly implied veto if needed. Does not like even look like it will get voted on because they do NOT have the 9 votes needed to force the USA to veto to squash the resolution. French working on getting text all 15 security council members could vote for.