US concern as Palestinians review security coordination with Israel
US concern as Palestinians review security coordination with Israel
Washington has voiced objections to the Palestinian Central Council's decision to draw security arrangements with Israel into the spotlight.
3 min read
Abbas said stopping security coordination with Israel was one of the Central Council's priorities [AFP]
The United States has expressed concern over Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to place the issue of security coordination [Ar] with Israel on the agenda of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's Central Council's (CC) next meeting.
US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Abbas against stopping security coordination with Israel by phone, an anonymous source told al-Araby al-Jadeed. He said the decision was a unilateral step that Washington rejected.
The CC is expected to hold an ordinary session in Ramallah on March 4 and 5.
"The phone call between Kerry and Abbas focused on the CC agenda and the issue of security coordination with Israel," the source explained.
Kerry reportedly expressed understanding of the Palestinian Authority's (PA) financial crisis, which has been caused by the Israeli government's decision to stop paying tax revenues collected on behalf of the PA three months ago.
The Palestinian government has been unable to pay employees' salaries. Kerry is understood to have promised emergency funds from the US and the European Union to help the PA.
Abbas reportedly told Kerry stopping security coordination with Israel was one of the CC's priorities.
Speaking to al-Araby al-Jadeed, security sources were unable to confirm if the decision has already been made to stop, restrict or limit security coordination. "Such a decision will be taken by President Abbas who will put it to the CC to vote on," they explained.
Palestinian society is divided - particularly along Hamas-Fatah lines - over the issue of security coordination. Many have also criticised the PA for its joint security efforts with Israel, which they say have damaged Palestinian efforts to resist the occupation.
Ahmad Majdalani, a member of the PLO's Executive Committee, told al-Araby al-Jadeed the most important issues on the CC's agenda were security coordination, a review of relations with "the occupation" and Palestinian reconciliation.
"Since the military coordination officers were discarded in 2002, security coordination has been confined to civil affairs focused on Palestinian humanitarian and health matters," Majdalani said. Any remaining efforts at security coordination needed to be urgently reconsidered, he said.
Majdalani also confirmed that the CC would review the contractual relationship between the PLO and Israel, according to the Oslo II Accord signed in September 1995.
The agreement said a Palestinian state would be established within a fixed period, not that an authority would be created per se.
He argued that Israel has contravened the interim accord by creating an authority without any authority, and dividing the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Israelis have not only violated the Oslo II Accord, he said, they have also flouted the Paris economic agreement - by repeatedly "pirating" Palestinian tax revenues to punish the PA.
"The CC will evaluate any attempts at Palestinian reconciliation and discuss any obstacles being faced," he added. The CC is set to adopt several resolutions related to the form and substance of reconciliation, and will likely set a date for legislative and presidential elections.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Abbas against stopping security coordination with Israel by phone, an anonymous source told al-Araby al-Jadeed. He said the decision was a unilateral step that Washington rejected.
 |
The phone call between Kerry and Abbas focused on the CC agenda and the issue of security coordination with Israel. |
"The phone call between Kerry and Abbas focused on the CC agenda and the issue of security coordination with Israel," the source explained.
Kerry reportedly expressed understanding of the Palestinian Authority's (PA) financial crisis, which has been caused by the Israeli government's decision to stop paying tax revenues collected on behalf of the PA three months ago.
The Palestinian government has been unable to pay employees' salaries. Kerry is understood to have promised emergency funds from the US and the European Union to help the PA.
Abbas reportedly told Kerry stopping security coordination with Israel was one of the CC's priorities.
| Palestinian president: Israel withholding tax revenues for third month - read more here |
Speaking to al-Araby al-Jadeed, security sources were unable to confirm if the decision has already been made to stop, restrict or limit security coordination. "Such a decision will be taken by President Abbas who will put it to the CC to vote on," they explained.
Palestinian society is divided - particularly along Hamas-Fatah lines - over the issue of security coordination. Many have also criticised the PA for its joint security efforts with Israel, which they say have damaged Palestinian efforts to resist the occupation.
Ahmad Majdalani, a member of the PLO's Executive Committee, told al-Araby al-Jadeed the most important issues on the CC's agenda were security coordination, a review of relations with "the occupation" and Palestinian reconciliation.
"Since the military coordination officers were discarded in 2002, security coordination has been confined to civil affairs focused on Palestinian humanitarian and health matters," Majdalani said. Any remaining efforts at security coordination needed to be urgently reconsidered, he said.
Majdalani also confirmed that the CC would review the contractual relationship between the PLO and Israel, according to the Oslo II Accord signed in September 1995.
The agreement said a Palestinian state would be established within a fixed period, not that an authority would be created per se.
He argued that Israel has contravened the interim accord by creating an authority without any authority, and dividing the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Israelis have not only violated the Oslo II Accord, he said, they have also flouted the Paris economic agreement - by repeatedly "pirating" Palestinian tax revenues to punish the PA.
"The CC will evaluate any attempts at Palestinian reconciliation and discuss any obstacles being faced," he added. The CC is set to adopt several resolutions related to the form and substance of reconciliation, and will likely set a date for legislative and presidential elections.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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