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PNA warns against bypassing Palestine issue in Arab-Israeli ties

Xinhua, December 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

The foreign ministry of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Wednesday warned against Israeli initiatives to form bilateral relations with Arab countries that bypass the Palestine issue.

In a statement, the ministry noted that Israel claims to "search for regional powers that share similar views for a so-called regional peace, that ignores the international foundations for the peace process."

It said that at the front of these foundations is the "Arab Peace Initiative," launched by the Arab League in 2002, which emphasizes the need for Israel to completely withdraw from the occupied territories before normalizing relations with Israel.

The Palestinian leadership is apparently trying to urge other Arab countries to coordinate with it in dealing with the Israelis.

The ministry accused Israel of attempting to exploit the conditions of the Arab region to "rebuild a new map of alliances in the region based on tactical interests that don't tackle the Palestine issue."

These interests only serve Israel and harm the Palestinians, the statement said.

"Israel is trying to cover up failing all opportunities for peace and negotiations with the Palestinians," the statement said, calling upon Palestinians and Arabs to stay committed to the Arab Peace Initiative as a foundation to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict and achieve peace and security in the region.

The foreign ministry urged Arabs to reject all initiatives that bypass the Palestine issue.

The statement Wednesday came after reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had greeted a number of Arab leaders whose countries don't have relations with Israel on the sidelines of the climate change summit in Paris.

Meanwhile, Israel has confirmed that it will soon open an official representative office at the International Renewable Energy Agency, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The office is not technically a diplomatic mission to the UAE but rather to a UN agency situated in its territory, the move is nonetheless seen as groundbreaking, as it would be the first official and permanent Israeli representation in the Gulf.

Israel has had strenuous relationships with Arab countries in the Middle East since its foundation and does not conduct diplomatic contacts with them, with the exceptions of Egypt and Jordan, with whom Israel signed peace treaties in 1979 and 1994, respectively. Endit