Ashrawi: We are serious about stopping security coordination with Israel

Member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Executive Committee Hanan Ashrawi has stressed that the Palestinian leadership is serious about stopping security coordination with Israel in the event that Palestine does not obtain a decision from the UN Security Council to end the occupation within a certain timeframe.

In her statements to the Anadolu Agency, Ashrawi said: “Ending the security coordination is one step in a series of measures to be taken by the Palestinian leadership in the event they are unable to obtain a decision from the Security Council. The most important measure to be taken is reconsidering Palestinian-Israeli security and economic relations.”

With regards to the date of submitting the Palestinian project, Ashrawi said: “We had planned to present the project for discussion on Sunday to the Arab ministerial meeting, but it became apparent that the Arab states want to make an effort to convince a number of states to vote in favour of the project.” She noted that the project will be presented in a few days’ time.

Ashrawi also expressed her hope that Palestine will earn enough votes in favour of the project, adding, “I am optimistic about the success of the project, but there have been American threats and vows to abort the project with its vetoing power.”

As for the French position, Ashrawi said that “there are serious talks with the French side and we hope they will vote in favour of the Palestinian project”, noting that “France is discussing this matter with Germany and Britain in order to urge them to vote in favour of the project.”

She also called on the United States to stop supporting Israel, stressing that “the American administration must stop its protective and supportive polices towards the Israeli occupation.”

“Unfortunately, the American position, actions, and decisions stem from Israel, and it exempts Israel from legal accountability. We are aware that America’s position is biased, but it has taken a turn that is more dangerous and harmful to the peace process. Its domination of the negotiations has caused the tragic situation we are in, thus strengthening Israel and weakening the Palestinian position,” Ashrawi said.

She also pointed out that the Palestinian leadership hopes that the European and Arab countries take positions that undermine Israel’s policies and rein in the American position by supporting Palestine and for those who have not yet recognised Palestine to do so. She stressed that “we must confront the Israeli-American-Canadian-Australian attack with Arab and regional support.”

At the end of the meeting held at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, the Arab foreign ministers approved a plan for the Arabs to head to the Security Council to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

The Arab action plan, approved by the Arab ministers, proposes submitting an Arab draft bill stipulating the official end of the occupation to the UN Security Council and continuing discussions in this regard with the members of the Council and the regional, continental and international groups.

Last October, Palestine handed out a draft resolution to the members of the UN Security Council in preparation for officially submitting it to the Council. This resolution stipulates ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories by November 2016 and the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.