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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday asked the UN Security Council to set November 2016 as the deadline for ending Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
The draft resolution obtained by AFP, put forth by Arab nations, calls for “the full withdrawal of Israel, the occupying power, from all of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, as rapidly as possible and to be fully completed within a specified timeframe, not to exceed November 2016”.
The four-page text calls for the Security Council to assert “its vision of a region where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace within secure and recognized borders”. It demands the “complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem”.
It also calls for the Security Council to respect “the independence and sovereignty of the state of Palestine and the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people”.
According to UN diplomats, the draft resolution does not stand a great change of being adopted, but the move itself identifies the momentum gained by the Palestinian people in their demand for statehood. The United States and European nations have maintained that the best method for Palestinians to gain statehood would be through direct negotiations with the Israelis and not by setting a deadline.
“We are aware of President Abbas’ plans and we continue to believe — to strongly believe — that the only way to a negotiated solution is through negotiations between the two parties”, US Ambassador Samantha Power said.
Late on Tuesday, Abbas told reporters in Ramallah that the Palestinians risk losing around $700 million in annual aid provided by the US if they continue to push for the resolution.
“The Palestinian leadership is coming under heavy pressure not to go to the Security Council or join international organizations, and the main pressure relates to aid. Relations with the U.S. administration are strained… and it is not in our interest to worsen it. But at the same time, we cannot go back on our decision”, Abbas said.
