PLO Suspends Recognition of Israel

Ramallah, MINA – The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) suspended its recognition of Israel on Monday until Israel recognises a Palestinian state and halts further settlements and plans to annex Jerusalem as its capital, KUNA reported.

In a statement following two-day talks, the PLO also decided to halt its security coordination and economic dependency on Israel – in accordance with the Paris Protocol – in order to achieve an independent national economy.

The interim period stated in agreements with Israel signed in Oslo, Cairo and Washington, along with their commitments, no longer stand, added the statement delivered by Palestinian National Council speaker, Salim Al-Zaanoun.

The interim period of the Oslo Accord, which transfers authority from Israel to the Palestinians, signed between the PLO and Israel in 1893, ended in 1998, the statement said.

It went on to highlight the PLO’s keenness to continue working with all nations on boycotting illegal Israeli settlement colonies and helping to establish a UN-researched database for companies that cooperate with these settlements.

The adoption of a ‘boycott movement’ would also call on countries to withdraw investments from Israel and impose sanctions on it in order to tackle its clear breaches of international law and its continued acts of aggression on the Palestinian people.

The statement declared rejection of any notions of a transitional or short-term solution to the matter, short-term borders or Israel as a “Jewish state.

The Palestinians also intend to work alongside Arab, Islamic and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) nations to host an international conference for the announcement of a peace process in coordination with the European Union, Russia, China, Japan and global organisations. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)