by Benson Agoha
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Natanyahu yesterday warned the Palestinian Authority on the dangers of taking unilateral steps to achieve statehood.
The new statement by Netanyahu comes after PA President, Mahmoud Abbas signed letters applying to join 15 United Nations affiliated organisations and agencies.
Speaking before the weekly cabinet meeting, the Israeli PM said unilateral steps by the Palestinians design to harm Israel and achieve statehood will invite equal unilateral steps by Israel in response.
Netanyahu said the Palestinians will only achieve statehood through dialogue and not through “empty declarations or one-sided actions that only push a peace agreement further away,” adding “Unilateral actions from the Palestinians will be answered with unilateral actions from our side.”
Woolwich Online reported how the PA President signed letters for submission to the UN, applying to joing specific organisations affiliated to the world body.
the prime minister added, and decried the Palestinian decision last week to apply for state-level membership in a group of international treaties and conventions.
Referring to Abbas' action Netanyahu said “Unfortunately… just when an agreement to continue the talks was getting close, the Palestinian leadership unilaterally applied to join 14 international bodies, violating the terms of the agreement that was reached.”
Israel is demanding a central issue - the recognition of Israel as “the Jewish state,” a demand which Abbas has reportedly ruled out.
Israel is reportedly considering several "unilateral moves" in response but decisions have not been made, Times of Israel report said adding however that some possibilities may include revoking permission for Palestinians to "farm some 14,000 dunams of agricultural land and bringing to a halt 19 previously approved building projects in Palestinian-controlled areas."
ToI said more serious measures may include the use of political measures against the Palestinian Authority leadership as well as imposing economic sanctions that will include withholding taxes collected by Israel.
Prime Minister Natanyahu has said that Palestinians “have a lot to lose” from such one-sided actions, and although Israel wants to continue the peace talks, the Jewish state will not do so at “any price.”
* Follow me on Twitter(follow): @bensonagoha and @woolwichonline.Israel is demanding a central issue - the recognition of Israel as “the Jewish state,” a demand which Abbas has reportedly ruled out.
Israel is reportedly considering several "unilateral moves" in response but decisions have not been made, Times of Israel report said adding however that some possibilities may include revoking permission for Palestinians to "farm some 14,000 dunams of agricultural land and bringing to a halt 19 previously approved building projects in Palestinian-controlled areas."
ToI said more serious measures may include the use of political measures against the Palestinian Authority leadership as well as imposing economic sanctions that will include withholding taxes collected by Israel.
Prime Minister Natanyahu has said that Palestinians “have a lot to lose” from such one-sided actions, and although Israel wants to continue the peace talks, the Jewish state will not do so at “any price.”
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