Senior Fatah official: "Attempts [to move the US embassy to Jerusalem] are liable to inflame the violence and create an atmosphere that will lead to more tension”
Headline: "Erekat: The attempts of the American Congress to revoke or modify [UN] Resolution 2334 are a revolt and incitement against international law"
"Secretary[-General] of the PLO Executive Committee [and Fatah Central Committee member] Saeb Erekat yesterday [Jan. 7, 2017] condemned the American Congress vote by a large majority to condemn [UN] Security Council Resolution 2334 against the settlements, and its intention to revoke or modify the UN resolution and stop the UN funding. This is concurrent with submitting a bill regarding the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem. He described these regretful attempts as a revolt and incitement against international law and the UN resolutions…
Erekat referred to the coordination in submitting initiatives and bills that contradict international law and destroy the chances of peace, including the initiative of the occupation's [Israeli] Minister of Education Naftali Bennett. He expressed the firm opposition of our people and its leadership, and warned of the dangers in these hostile plans, which our people will fight against with all legal, political, and popular means (term refers to events that include violence against Israeli civilians such as rock-throwing, stabbings, and even shootings -Ed.).
He added: 'These attempts are liable to inflame the violence and create an atmosphere that will lead to more tension, not only in Palestine, but also on the Arab, Islamic, and international levels. What is needed now is to implement the resolutions of the international institutions, to put an end to the occupation, which is the main reason for violence and terror, and to recognize the State of Palestine and the right of the Palestinian people to realize the sovereignty of its state in the 1967 borders and in its capital, East Jerusalem, as this is the only solution for bringing peace and stability to the region and the world."
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UN Security Council Resolution 2334 was passed on Dec. 23, 2016, by a vote of 14-0 with one abstention.
The resolution condemned the establishment of Israeli "settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem," saying it "has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace." It demanded that Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities” in the area. The resolution further said “it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines” other than changes made through negotiations, in reference to the 1949-1967 ceasefire line between Israel and the neighboring Arab countries following Israel's 1948 War of Independence.
The resolution called “upon all States… to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.” It also called "to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as acts of provocation and destruction... and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism," and noted the obligation of "the Palestinian Authority Security Forces to maintain effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantling terrorist capabilities."
The US abstained instead of vetoing the resolution, in a breach of longstanding US policy of not allowing the UN to force conditions on Israel in place of direct negotiations. This policy change came during US President Barack Obama’s final weeks in office.
"Secretary[-General] of the PLO Executive Committee [and Fatah Central Committee member] Saeb Erekat yesterday [Jan. 7, 2017] condemned the American Congress vote by a large majority to condemn [UN] Security Council Resolution 2334 against the settlements, and its intention to revoke or modify the UN resolution and stop the UN funding. This is concurrent with submitting a bill regarding the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem. He described these regretful attempts as a revolt and incitement against international law and the UN resolutions…
Erekat referred to the coordination in submitting initiatives and bills that contradict international law and destroy the chances of peace, including the initiative of the occupation's [Israeli] Minister of Education Naftali Bennett. He expressed the firm opposition of our people and its leadership, and warned of the dangers in these hostile plans, which our people will fight against with all legal, political, and popular means (term refers to events that include violence against Israeli civilians such as rock-throwing, stabbings, and even shootings -Ed.).
He added: 'These attempts are liable to inflame the violence and create an atmosphere that will lead to more tension, not only in Palestine, but also on the Arab, Islamic, and international levels. What is needed now is to implement the resolutions of the international institutions, to put an end to the occupation, which is the main reason for violence and terror, and to recognize the State of Palestine and the right of the Palestinian people to realize the sovereignty of its state in the 1967 borders and in its capital, East Jerusalem, as this is the only solution for bringing peace and stability to the region and the world."
Click to view bulletin
UN Security Council Resolution 2334 was passed on Dec. 23, 2016, by a vote of 14-0 with one abstention.
The resolution condemned the establishment of Israeli "settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem," saying it "has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace." It demanded that Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities” in the area. The resolution further said “it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines” other than changes made through negotiations, in reference to the 1949-1967 ceasefire line between Israel and the neighboring Arab countries following Israel's 1948 War of Independence.
The resolution called “upon all States… to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.” It also called "to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as acts of provocation and destruction... and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism," and noted the obligation of "the Palestinian Authority Security Forces to maintain effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantling terrorist capabilities."
The US abstained instead of vetoing the resolution, in a breach of longstanding US policy of not allowing the UN to force conditions on Israel in place of direct negotiations. This policy change came during US President Barack Obama’s final weeks in office.
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