BICOM

The US administration and the Jordanian leadership have expressed concern at Palestinian threats to take extreme measure if the Israeli-Palestinian peace process remains stalled. According to a report by Haaretz’s diplomatic correspondent Barak Ravid, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his advisors have been drafting a letter listing a series of actions the Palestinian leadership will take if no progress is made to restart meaningful talks. These include the renewal of Palestinian steps to gain recognition unilaterally at the United Nations and even the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority and the transferring of responsibility for the West Bank back to Israeli hands.

Washington fears that delivering the letter will increase the tension between Israel and the Palestinians. Unilateral action by the Palestinians could lead to internal Israeli pressure that would cause Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take counter measures such as withholding tax funds to the Palestinian Authority.

Representatives of the international Quartet met yesterday to discuss the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian arena and called on the Israelis and Palestinians to “remain engaged” in the diplomatic process and “refrain from provocative actions.”