Washington threatens economic sanctions if PA goes to UN
Published on Thursday, 11 September 2014 11:54
PNN/ Bethlehem
Israeli news site, Walla, has revealed that the United States threatened the Palestinian Authority with economic sanctions if President Mahmoud Abbas insists on presenting his plan for the end of occupation to the UN.
Walla quoted both American and Israeli sources in reporting that Secretary of State John Kerry threatened the Palestinian delegation if they were to go to the UN.
Kerry warned that pursuing such a course of action would leave the PA in a difficult position, facing economic sanctions.
It is reported that Kerry warned that Washington would not only impose these measures but would equally try to convince its allies to adopt a similar stance.
The USA believes the future of the Palestinian state should be determined through negotiations with Israel.
Presenting the Palestinian case to the UN is seen by Washington as a unilateral decision on the Palestinian State, which goes against its vision of negotiations with Israel as being fundamental.
Economic sanctions thus function as a threat to discourage this move by the PA.
Mustafa Barghouti, General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, speaking to PNN News dismissed this threat by the United States, commenting that the PA is within its legitimate rights in going to the UN and can go equally to the International Criminal Court.
Barghouti highlighted how the United States "talks about the need to respect human rights everywhere and respect international law". "Why is it forbidden for Palestine to exercise this right?" he asked.
