Bargouthi dismisses 'ridiculous' threats

November 17, 2009

Ramallah – Ma'an – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's threat to take unilateral action against Palestinians were they to declare statehood is "ridiculous," according to Mustafa Barghouthi, the secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative.

"There aren't any Palestinian territories left to threaten - they're all occupied," Barghouthi said in a statement on Monday.

Regarding other threats to halt transfers of money collected in taxes on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, Barghouthi said taking such a step would require Palestinians first cancel the Paris economic accord.

He urged the PLO Central Committee to move forward with its proposal, as well as seek international sanctions on Israel until it fulfills its obligations to remove or reroute the separation barrier as per the International Court of Justice's 2004 ruling on the wall's illegality. Once that decision is implemented, Barghouthi said, Palestinians should declare their state on the 1967 borders, which include Jerusalem.

But seeking recognition of an independent state on the 1967 borders is completely different from unilaterally declaring a Palestinian state, chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Sunday.

"The PLO is not suggesting we unilaterally declare statehood," Erekat explained, speaking with US and EU lawmakers in Ramallah. He affirmed that seeking UN Security Council recognition was aimed at protecting the two-state solution, which the PLO still prefers.

With regard to Israel's threats to annex areas in response, Erekat said Israeli procedures were often made unilaterally. "Settlement activities, the separation wall, and displacing Palestinians in Jerusalem and elsewhere are clear examples of Israel's unilateralism," he said.

According to caretaker Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Palestinians are determined to build state institutions despite Israel's concerns.

"They're talking about unilateralism, to which we reply - yes, building state institutions is our responsibility and we embrace it," Fayyad said. "A Palestinian state will be established, so long as Palestinians want it, which they do, as it is their natural right to live in a homeland."

Prior to his remarks, Fayyad briefed US officials, including members of its Congress, on his plan for building a state within two years. But he said "Israeli stubbornness" was getting in the way, and urged the country to "stop settlements and abide by international law."

"The international community must emphasize Palestinian rights, at the top of which is ending the occupation, and ensure the right to determine our own future, rather than relying on the occupying power to carry out its wishes," he said.