TEL AVIV – The Palestinian Authority has filed official requests this past week to join eight international treaties, including the UN’s International Convention against Apartheid in Sports and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, according to a report from Channel 2 news.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon slammed the PA’s move as an attempt to “establish facts on the ground by making detours and unilateral moves.”
“Instead of ignoring the United States and Israel, the Palestinians should stop encouraging terrorism and incitement,” he added.
On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a slew of resolutions condemning Israel, including one which called on Israel to give the strategic Golan Heights to war-torn Syria. All five of the resolutions were presented by member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation under “Agenda Item 7” which is a permanent agenda item dedicated to Israel. Israel is the only country to have such an agenda.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley slammed the UNHRC for the anti-Israel resolutions, saying the council was “foolish and unworthy of its name.” At the same time, Israel blasted the UN agency for being a “sham” run by “bloodthirsty dictatorships.”
The Palestinian Authority, meanwhile, welcomed the new motions, with spokesperson Yusuf al-Mahmoud thanking those who voted in favor “for their ability to stand in the face of injustice, arrogance and occupation and to reject the language of threats and coercion.”
The resolutions, he said, “reflect an international position in favor of a just and fitting solution to the conflict.”
In 2014, the Palestinians applied for membership to 15 international treaties, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Fourth Geneva Convention and the UN Convention Against Corruption and were accepted by then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to ten treaties as non-state members.
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