Israel Threatens Oslo Pullout Over Palestinian UN Bid

RIA Novosti

18:09 14/11/2012

TEL-AVIV, November 14 (RIA Novosti) - Israel will consider pulling out of the Oslo Accords and overthrowing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas if the UN upgrades the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state, Israeli media reported on Wednesday.

The Haaretz daily said Israeli ambassadors around the world were instructed to deliver a message to top officials in the countries where they serve that Israel will consider partial or full cancellation of the Oslo Accords if the United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution to upgrade Palestine's status.

The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993, provided for creation of a Palestinian National Authority government, some Israeli withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territory, and set out a future path to further negotiations on creation of a Palestinian state, but did not promise full statehood.

The vote on the Palestinian issue is due on November 29, the anniversary of the UN vote approving the Partition Plan for Palestine in 1947, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) announced on Monday at a meeting with Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo.

The Partition Plan was to replace the British Mandate over Palestine with two national states, one Jewish and one Arab. In 1977, the United Nations recognized November 29 as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

According to Ynet news portal, a Foreign Ministry draft position paper says that if the Palestinian Authority receives the status of a non-member state the only viable option would be "to overthrow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas."

The paper, approved by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, said that "a soft response would be tantamount to an Israeli admission that it cannot handle the challenge."

The Foreign Ministry draft also claims Abbas has serious concerns that he will meet the same fate as Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and ousted Tunisian leader Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali.

However, the Foreign Ministry also recommended Israel should negotiate a Palestinian state on provisional borders with the Palestinian Authority until the Arab world stabilizes and Palestinian elections are held, if it holds back from seeking UN recognition, the paper adds.