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PLO submits applications to join 15 international bodies


RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Letters of accession for 15 international multilateral treaties and conventions were handed to the relevant parties on Wednesday after being signed by President Mahmoud Abbas a day earlier, Palestinian officials said.

The letters were delivered to Robert Serry, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Paul Garnier, the permanent representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, and to the deputy head of the permanent mission of Holland to the United Nations.

The PA Foreign Ministry said employees were working hard to put into effect the decision by President Abbas to join international bodies after Israel reneged on an agreement to release a final group of prisoners.

In July, the PLO agreed to postpone accession to international bodies in exchange for the release of 104 Palestinians prisoners jailed before the Oslo Accords.

"Since Israel failed to release the last group of prisoners, the State of Palestine is no longer obliged to postpone its rights to accede to multilateral treaties and conventions," the PLO said in a statement Wednesday.

"Despite the escalation of oppressive Israeli policies such as the killing of Palestinian civilians, settlement construction, raids on vulnerable communities, arbitrary arrests and detentions, home demolitions and the removal of residency rights, we remained committed to the negotiations process and supported US efforts," it added. more

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