Analysis: The Palestinian diplomatic battle against Israel

The Palestinians aren’t going to change their policy or rescind the statehood bid at the Security Council on the basis of the results of Israeli elections.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the UN Headquarters in New York [File] (photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the UN Headquarters in New York [File]
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Palestinian train has left the station – and nothing will stop it.
This is how PA officials in Ramallah referred to the draft resolution on Thursday that was presented to the UN Security Council, which calls for a two-state solution on the basis of the pre-1967 lines.
The Palestinian Authority leadership does not share the view that its statehood bid at the Security Council would play into the hands of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Right.
Officials in Abbas’s office said the timing of the presentation of the draft resolution was not linked to the upcoming elections in Israel.
“The elections are an internal Israeli affair,” said one official. “The decision to present the draft resolution to the Security Council has nothing to do with the elections or their outcome.”
The Palestinians point out that the draft resolution leaves the door open for the resumption of the peace talks with Israel on the basis of the draft resolution, which calls for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines by the end of 2017.
The Palestinians say they are willing to return to the negotiating table with any government that is elected in Israel, be it Right or Left.
“We will deal with any government that is elected by the Israelis,” they say.
It’s clear the Palestinians have reached the point of no return. They aren’t going to change their policy or rescind the statehood bid at the Security Council on the basis of the results of the elections.
As of now, the Palestinians are willing to negotiate with any Israeli government only about ways of implementing the Palestinian statehood project.
The Palestinians have set the parameters for a deal with Israel – namely that there would be no solution unless Israel withdraws to the pre-1967 lines and accepts east Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.
As far as they are concerned, it does not mater whether Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog or Tzipi Livni head the next government.
They expect the next government to hold negotiations with the Palestinians on the basis of the content of the draft resolution or face an escalation of the Palestinian diplomatic offensive in the international arena.
The PA leadership views the Security Council move as part of a diplomatic battle against Israel in the international arena. And, as Abbas said on Thursday, this is a battle that the Palestinians are determined to win at any cost.