The Palestinians commenced the next phase of their diplomatic warfare strategy, in breach of established peace accords with Israel.
By: JNS.org and World Israel News Staff
The Palestinian Authority (PA) filed official requests this past week to join eight international treaties, including the United Nations’ International Convention against Apartheid in Sports and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, according to a report in Israel’s Hadashot news.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said the latest attempt by the Palestinian Authority to raise its status within the international community and delegitimize Israel is a campaign to “establish facts on the ground by making detours and unilateral moves.”
Such moves breach the Palestinians’ obligations under 1993 Oslo Peace Accords with Israel.
Membership in organizations such as these would provide the Palestinians with new opportunities to challenge Israel’s legitimacy and besmirch the Jewish state on global stages. The PA has launched a diplomatic campaign against Israel and has been utilizing such forums as a platform for that purpose.
In April 2014, the PA applied for membership in 15 international treaties, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Fourth Geneva Convention and the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
Then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accepted the Palestinians entry into 10 of the treaties as non-state members.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has vowed to apply to 22 international treaties, including 18 of the UN, in December following President Donald Trump’s official recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The Palestinians announced on several occasions that they have abandoned US-led peace negotiations after Trump’s declaration on Jerusalem and instead will attempt to obtain full Palestinian United Nations (UN) membership, seek further Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and prosecute Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The United Nations’ World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in September turned down a request by the PA to join the organization as a member state.
After the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) accepted “Palestine,” it has devolved into a virulently anti-Israel body.