PA calls for UN to punish Israel for passing ‘Regulation Law’

The Palestinian Authority called for international action, not just condemnation against Israel, for its passing of legislation that prevents the demolition of Jewish homes in Judea and Samaria. 

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has called on Wednesday for the international community to act against Israel for passing a bill known as the “Regulation Law” that prevents the demolition of any Jewish homes in Judea and Samaria determined ex-post facto to have been built on private land.

The Palestinian news outlet Wafa reported that the PA has urged the UN Security Council “to take mandatory measures and decisions that would put an end to the Israeli settlement activity and its noncompliance with international resolutions…and to support Palestinian efforts to put Israel on trial in specialized international courts as an occupation power.”

Moreover, the PA claimed the international condemnation of Israel was insufficient, even though several European officials appeared to echo remarks of UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Nikolay Mladenov that conveyed implicit threats against Israel.

“The international reaction was not up to the level and seriousness of that crime and was nothing more than reiteration of formality condemnation and expression of concern and rejection that does not say anything about holding [Israel] accountable for their acts,” the PA’s foreign affairs department stated, according to Wafa.

“(Israel) has adapted itself to all forms of settlement condemnation as long as these statements do not include real penalizing steps and do not have an effect on their bilateral relations with Israel.”

Nevertheless, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas thanked the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini for condemning Israel’s Parliament for passing the Regulation Law.

“We would like to express our profound thanks to you over the EU position that came in your statement regarding the (Regulation Law),” Abbas said to Mogherini according to Wafa. 

Mogherini had said that the Regulation Law “crosses a new and dangerous threshold,” and that Israel must “refrain from implementing the law.”

The PA’s foreign affairs department also singled out the administration of US President Donald Trump for its “unjustified silence” on the matter. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said on Wednesday that the Regulation Law “will obviously be a topic of discussion in next week’s meeting between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News