Saturday, September 05, 2009

PA considering asking EU for sanctions against Israel


Palestinian official tells Ynet, 'Every country in world believes danger to peace is Israeli settlement policy, so we must translate this into sanctions'. Abbas says meeting with Netanyahu contingent upon construction freeze
Ali Waked
YNET News

A Palestinian Authority official told Ynet Friday that his government would consider asking the European Union to impose sanctions on Israel following the prime minister's decision to approve construction plans in West Bank settlements. The official said the PA had previously considered the diplomatic move. "There is not a country in the world that doesn't believe the danger to peace is Israeli policy, and especially its settlement policy, so we must actualize this concept and translate it into sanctions."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also responded to Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to approve the construction of more housing units in settlements. "The Israeli government's stance on the spurring of construction is unproductive and we reject it," he told reporters in Paris.

"We want a total freeze of construction in settlements," Abbas added, and said this was a condition for a meeting with Netanyahu. "We want peace that will bring about the establishment of an independent Palestinian state living beside Israel. An end to the conflict is in the interest of the entire world."

Abbas with French President Nicolas Sarkozy (Photo: Reuters)

Earlier Friday an aide to Netanyahu said, "The prime minister plans to approve the construction of hundreds of news housing units in Judea and Samaria, before the freeze."

Top Jerusalem sources also stressed that Israel would continue the construction of some 2,500 housing units in the West Bank that is already underway.

The first to respond to the report was top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who said the planned Israeli move was "unacceptable".

"I think the only thing that will be suspended by this announcement is the peace process," Erekat said.

The Palestinian official went on to say that European officials were expressing discontent with Israel's policies. "We want what is said behind closed doors – the strict objection to Israeli policies – to be supported by action," he said.


"Any Israeli company working in the settlements in any field whatsoever needs to know that the European market will be closed before it," he added.

"We believe Europe is ready for such a move, despite the noise Israel is making. We need to work so that they are politically ready for such a move, in order to withstand pressure from Americans and other interested parties."

Comment: We told you so!! Israel has dropped the political ball-we indicated that if the "settlement issue" was not dealt with directly in a forceful manner, the issue would escalate to its current status. The Israeli leadership, instead of standing firm against the Obama attack has capitulated-note today's news. Of course the king of PR manipulation, the "Palestinians" have jumped on this as a shark does with blood in the water. Interesting when those in Bibi's cabinet take a positive public stand on this issue, the media attacks them, Bibi retreats and tries to manipulate the system. Enough-stop this now. Bibi must say: You know, I have done my best to hear your point of view, I have respected your words. However, I disagree with your analysis, I disagree with your interpretation of international law that gives us the same rights to the disputed territories and now realize you are using this issue for only political reasons. You do not require any tangible behavior change by our enemy, the "Palestinians"-they continue to fire on my population, they continue to incite their generations of people and they continue to not behave as a sovereign nation should behave. They have demonstrated they do not know care to develop infrastructure, they use the monies for other actions. You look the other way, you have never held them accountable or even use any form of sanctions upon them-you do this for what reasons? Explain to us in Israel why you do not hold them accountable? Provide us with a solid analysis of why you let them misbehave and scold us like little children? Please we want to understand your logic! " Bibi should stand tall and say this but he will not-he thinks he can out talk Obama-big mistake even though Bibi speaks correct English!

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