Fatah Central Committee member: Retracting PA recognition of Israel “is an option under discussion”
Headline: "PA will make no distinction between Ramallah and Jaffa if Netanyahu continues to make no distinction between Tel Aviv and the settlements" – Shtayyeh: Either Israel recognizes us as a state and as a geographical territory, or we retract our recognition [of Israel]"
"Member of the Fatah Central Committee Muhammad Shtayyeh hinted at what the PA might do if all paths to the peace process remain blocked. He said, 'If the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, insists on making no distinction between the settlement of Abu Ghanim [Har Homa neighborhood on the outskirts of Jerusalem, near Bethlehem, beyond the Green Line] and Tel Aviv, then we will make no distinction between Ramallah and Jaffa.'
Shtayyeh's statements hint at the possibility that the PA might nullify the agreements which were signed with Israel, which include mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO. This is one of the options under discussion in the PA. Shtayyeh told Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London-based daily): 'The recognition of Israel wasn't balanced, because the PA recognized Israel as a geographical territory, but Israel recognized Palestine not as a geographical territory, but rather as an institution. It recognized only the PLO, and now we are demanding that Israel give mutual recognition.' He stated, 'We want Israel to recognize the Palestinian territories of 1967.'
Shtayyeh's statement is the first of its kind; no senior Palestinian [spokesman] has hinted in the past at the possibility of retracting recognition of Israel if it does not amend its recognition of Palestine."
"Member of the Fatah Central Committee Muhammad Shtayyeh hinted at what the PA might do if all paths to the peace process remain blocked. He said, 'If the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, insists on making no distinction between the settlement of Abu Ghanim [Har Homa neighborhood on the outskirts of Jerusalem, near Bethlehem, beyond the Green Line] and Tel Aviv, then we will make no distinction between Ramallah and Jaffa.'
Shtayyeh's statements hint at the possibility that the PA might nullify the agreements which were signed with Israel, which include mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO. This is one of the options under discussion in the PA. Shtayyeh told Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London-based daily): 'The recognition of Israel wasn't balanced, because the PA recognized Israel as a geographical territory, but Israel recognized Palestine not as a geographical territory, but rather as an institution. It recognized only the PLO, and now we are demanding that Israel give mutual recognition.' He stated, 'We want Israel to recognize the Palestinian territories of 1967.'
Shtayyeh's statement is the first of its kind; no senior Palestinian [spokesman] has hinted in the past at the possibility of retracting recognition of Israel if it does not amend its recognition of Palestine."