The PLO – the Palestinian terrorist groups’ umbrella organization – has decided to authorize moves to join international bodies under UN auspices, and to sign international conventions – even though it had promised last year not to do so, in exchange for the release of 104 terrorist murderers from Israeli jails.
In a session of the PLO Acting Committee in Ramallah Monday, under Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, the PLO leadership instructed the Diplomatic Committee which is subordinate to it, to immediately begin preparing an action plan in this spirit.
When negotiations between the PA and Israel were renewed in 2013, the Palestinians committed to freeze all initiatives to turn to international bodies against Israel, in exchange for the release from Israeli jails of 104 terrorist prisoners who had committed murderous attacks.
Israel has stood up to its side of the deal, releasing 78 terrorist prisoners in three batches to date. The final installment of murderers is due to be released in about 10 weeks’ time.
The PLO issued a statement blaming Israel for the current difficulties in the diplomatic process.
The US-brokered talks appear to be exploding in rancor in recent days, with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon quoted as saying that Abbas “lives on [Israel’s] sword.”
“Once we leave Judea and Samaria, he is finished,” Yaalon reportedly said. “In fact, throughout the recent months, there is no negotiation between us and the Palestinians – but rather, between us and the Americans.” Abbas will not give up his demand for the “right of return,” he predicted, until “the last refugee from 1948 is satisfied, and every single refugee will be able to choose between returning or staying in his current place of residence.”
Yaalon is apparently concerned that Abbas will try to get Israel to agree to release more terrorist murderers from jail, and a freeze on construction in Judea and Samaria. He said that this is out of the question: “We have given enough and received nothing…Let us say to our American friends: enough is enough.”
