PA to ‘Limit’ Relations with Israel following Abu Ein Death

Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat told Ma’an Thursday that the Palestinian leadership had decided to “limit” relations with Israel by halting security coordination.Erekat said Israel was completely responsible for the death of Palestinian Authority official Ziad Abu Ein.

“It is not possible for (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu to continue seeking a Palestinian Authority without any authority, and an occupation at no cost,” Erekat told Ma’an.

He reiterated that the Palestinian leadership would also be proposing a UN Security Council resolution to uphold the 1967 borders and set a timeframe for an end to occupation.

Erekat added that Palestine would be joining the International Criminal Court, and called on the High Contracting Parties to the fourth Geneva convention to assist the Palestinian leadership in doing so.

He said President Mahmoud Abbas had also written a letter to UN chief Ban Ki-Moon to put a mechanism in place to protect the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian leadership will meet again Friday evening to implement the decisions taken in the Wednesday meeting that followed Abu Ein’s death, Erekat added.

Abu Ein died Wednesday after a confrontation with Israeli soldiers during a protest march against settlements by some 300 Palestinians who intended to plant olive trees as a symbolic act, an AFP photographer said.

Troops fired tear gas, three soldiers grabbed Abu Ein and he was struck in the chest during the confrontation. Videos circulating online showed the soldiers pushing Abu Ein firmly in the chest and neck.

He collapsed and was treated by an Israeli army doctor, but died later in hospital.

(Ma’an – www.maannews.net)
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