PA leadership pushes to convene emergency UN Security Council session

The PA gov't plans to appeal to UN to "end the ongoing and wanton aggression" against Palestinians by Israel in Operation Brother's Keeper.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Palestinian UN observer Riyad Mansour 370 (photo credit: REUTERS/Chip East)
Palestinian UN observer Riyad Mansour 370
(photo credit: REUTERS/Chip East)
The Palestinian Authority leadership has begun holding intensive contacts to convene an emergency session of the UN Security Council to “end the ongoing and wanton aggression” against Palestinians, a statement published in Ramallah said Sunday.
The statement said that the PA leadership was also planning to go to international parties and organizations to provide protection for Palestinians.
The PA leadership condemned the ongoing IDF operation in the West Bank following the abduction of the three Israeli youths, dubbing it a “collective punishment.”
The statement pointed out that six Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the IDF crackdown.
It also said that the IDF has stormed many houses, institutions, organizations and universities and arrested hundreds of Palestinians “under the pretext of searching for the three missing settlers.
This means that the Israeli government is pushing the situation toward additional tension and explosion.”
The PA said that the Israeli “aggression” won’t achieve its goal and would only drive Palestinians to adhere to their rights.
PA Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki warned of an “explosion” in the Palestinian territories “as a result of Israeli assaults against residents, including killings and arrests.”
Al-Malki told visiting Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean that Israel was using the IDF operation to “continue evading its obligations toward the peace process and build and expand illegal settlements.”
Adnan Damiri, spokesman for the PA security forces, said that the IDF crackdown was not intended to search for the kidnapped youths, but to “spread chaos and confusion” among Palestinians.
Damiri also accused Israel of inciting against the PA and its security forces “as a way out of its crisis following the positive reaction of the international community to the Palestinian national consensus government.”