Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, stated that should the Palestinians go ahead with their plan to seek international recognition of statehood at the UN in September, Israel will void all peace agreements, and the US support to them will be jeopardized.His statements came during an interview with the Foreign Policy American magazine.
He said that Israel will not be committed to all signed peace agreements, and that “there are agreements that were signed with the Palestinian Authority, and not the Palestinian government, including agreements regarding exports and imports, water, and security cooperation.
The American born ambassador claimed that “the Palestinians will use the international recognition to file lawsuits against Israel in international courts”, and that “an international recognition of statehood will reduce the possibilities of achieving a peace deal”.
“We cannot negotiate with those who target our legitimacy”, Oren stated, and added that heading to the United Nations will affect the relations between the United States and the Palestinian Authority on the legal, economic and political levels.
The United States contacted 71 countries around the world urging them not to recognize a Palestinian State. It is also threatening to use its Veto power to topple the Palestinian move.
On Wednesday, Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, stated that the choice of heading to the UN is not an alternative to peace talks with Israel, but a move to achieve international support of the legitimate Palestinian rights.
Abbas added that the P.A is committed to peace with Israel based on the two-state solution, and based on the Palestinian right to live in an independent and sovereign state, living in peace next to Israel.
During his Wednesday meeting with Jewish Rabbi Menachen Froman, in Ramallah, Abbas stated that the Palestinian leadership is committed to peace, and that the UN bid comes due to Israel’s refusal to abide by the signed agreements and international law.
On Wednesday, Israeli daily Haaretz, reported that US republican congresswoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, introduced a bill, along with 57 co-sponsors, asking Congress to block U.S. funds for any United Nations entity that supports giving Palestine an elevated status at the UN.
Ros-Lehtinen, known for her anti-UN stances, is also seeking to ban U.S. contributions to the UN Human Rights Council and an anti-racism conference seen as a platform for anti-Israel rhetoric.
