Erekat: door to Israel talks still open

Chief PA negotiator Saeb Erekat said Monday the PA outreach campaign to United Nations agencies is designed to put the Authority on the map in a world ruled by international law, rather than one subject to Israel’s dictates.

That was the logic behind Sunday’s decision by the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Central Council, its highest body, to continue the efforts to and become a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, Erekat said.

The Central Council authorized the PLO to ask the UN General Assembly and Security Council to condemn settlement construction, the Judaization of the occupied al-Quds (‘Jerusalem’) and damage to mosques and churches, the council said in a statement.

It also said the PLO was authorized to request sanctions on Israel and the boycott of the companies and institutions that cooperate with the policy of occupation.

At the same time, the statement noted, the council agreed to return to the negotiating table, on condition that Israel freeze settlement construction and proceed with the fourth stage of the prisoner release, as agreed.

Representatives of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine left the council chamber in protest at the decision to leave open the option of continuing the negotiations.