Ashrawi describes Israeli reactions to Abbas speech as disinformation

PLO Executive Committee member and lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi Monday described Israeli reactions to President Mahmoud Abbas’ address to the Arab League as disinformation to mislead public opinion. She told Voice of Palestine radio that the Israeli government aims through its reactions to play the victim’s role in order to justify its positions from the peace process. She reiterated the Palestinian leadership’s position that there will be no return to negotiations or meetings due to Israeli intransigence, refusal to halt all settlement activities and its refusal to accept clear terms of reference for the pace process. She said the Palestinian Authority will reconsider its political, economic, and security relations with Israel if it refuses to uphold its obligations, pointing that the Israeli government wants to strip the PA of its powers. Ashrawi said the PA has several political options on its agenda, including the continuation of its diplomatic moves through pursuing its request for full membership of the United Nations and joining all international bodies and organizations. The Palestinians may also seek to take Israel to the International Court of Justice and call for a meeting for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to discuss the possibility of implementing the Geneva convention on the Palestinian land. She criticized the Quartet’s methods in dealing with the peace process, pointing that the PA does not want to start a conflict, rather to hold Israel accountable for its violations against the Palestinians.