FM: PLO postpones UN resolution on occupation

The PLO has postponed submitting a draft resolution to the UN Security Council demanding the end of Israel's occupation, having already passed several target dates for the procedure over the past two months.

PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told Ma'an that the decision was made because the PLO is still lobbying to gain the support of nine security council members to ensure the vote passes.

The resolution was also suspended because Iran nuclear talks are currently the top priority for Security Council permanent members.

"The permanent member states have informed us that they would give priority to the Iranian issue not to the Palestinian statehood issue," al-Maliki said.

"We haven't backed down on the resolution or cancelled it despite the international opposition and US threats."

The PLO will submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council as soon as Iran nuclear talks have finished and the required political support has been obtained.

The United States, in line with a decades-long policy, will likely veto any vote on Palestinian statehood.

In a speech at the 69th United Nations General Debate in September, President Abbas said that a resolution demanding an end to Israel's occupation would be submitted to the Security Council due to the failure of peace negotiations.

A draft of the resolution, obtained by AFP, calls for the "full withdrawal of Israel, the occupying power, from all of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, as rapidly as possible and to be fully completed within a specified time-frame, not to exceed November 2016."

In October, PLO Secretary General Yasser Abed Rabbo said the resolution would be submitted by the end of that month, while senior PLO official Wassel Abu Yusef said the draft resolution would be submitted by the end of November. more

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