BICOM

President Mahmoud Abbas has dropped the threat to dismantle the Palestinian Authority in protest of the deadlock in peace efforts with Israel, according to an Associated Press report citing foreign diplomats.

According to a report in Haaretz’s at the beginning of the month, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his advisors had been drafting a letter listing a series of actions the Palestinian leadership will take if no progress is made to restart 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. Abbas had been planning to deliver the threat in a letter to Israel. However, according to a copy of the letter obtained yesterday by The Associated Press, the language has been dropped from the text.

The diplomats who provided the letter said Abbas scrapped the threat at the urging of US President Barack Obama. Washington fears that delivering the letter will increase tension between Israel and the Palestinians.

Dismantling the Palestinian Authority has always been considered a last-resort option for the Palestinians. The move would mean the end of peace efforts and would force Israel to take responsibility for the well being of several million Palestinians.

The diplomats spoke on the condition of anonymity because the letter has not yet been sent.