The Palestinian Authority (PA) said on Sunday that it is seeking to build an international coalition to block Israel’s plan to apply sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria through diplomatic efforts worldwide, the Xinhua news agency reports.
Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said the PA has been mobilizing efforts with several countries within the UN General Assembly in order to establish an international coalition against the Israeli plan.
Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio that the coalition will aim to hold Israel accountable if it presses ahead with its annexation plan.
PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas is holding contacts with world leaders over the consequences of the Israeli plan and the aftermath of the PA decision to abolish all agreements with Israel and the United States, said Erekat.
"Under the annexation plan, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to turn the Palestinian Authority into a service provider and an instrument for the perpetuation and continuation of the occupation," Erekat charged.
The PA has expressed outrage over the coalition agreement between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, which stipulates that the government could have applied sovereignty over Judea and Samaria on July 1.
While the July 1 date came and went without Israel applying sovereignty, Israel is continuing its discussions with the US on how to carry out the sovereignty move.
Netanyahu met last Tuesday with US Ambassador David Friedman and special Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz. Following the meeting, the Prime Minister said, "I spoke with American Envoy Avi Berkowitz and Ambassador David Friedman on the issue of sovereignty. This is a matter which we are working on and which we will continue to work on in the coming days.”
