BICOM

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas clashed with Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, at a signature ceremony for the Paris Climate Agreement on Friday.

Mr Abbas took the opportunity of the treaty signing to attack Israel, saying: “The occupation is ruining Palestine, and the settlements are ruining the environment.”

Mr Danon hit back at Mr Abbas, accusing him of exploiting the issue of climate change for his own political purposes. He said: “This climate summit is supposed to be a demonstration of global unity for the sake of the future of our planet. Unfortunately, President Abbas chose to exploit this international stage to mislead the international community.”

According to Reuters, the Palestinian President’s decision to sign the treaty could lead to the USA blocking its funding to the Paris Agreement secretariat. A US law prevents the Federal Government from funding any international body that recognises a State of Palestine. Reuters reports that 21 Republican Senators have written to Secretary of State John Kerry to demand that the law is implemented.

Mr Abbas had been preparing a United Nations Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements, but has reportedly agreed to withdraw the resolution under pressure from France. Haaretz reports that several senior Palestinian officials have criticised Mr Abbas’ decision to withdraw the resolution. Haaretz cites anonymous figures from within Fatah, Mr Abbas’ political party, who say that withdrawing the resolution was a mistake. Other sources, though, back Mr Abbas and believe that the planned French peace initiative should now be the Palestinian national priority.