Chief Palestinian Authority (PA) negotiator in the peace talks, Saeb Erekat, threatened Israel on Thursday, saying that if it announces new construction in Judea and Samaria next week, the PA will take Israel to the International Criminal Court in the Hague for “war crimes.”
Erekat further warned that the PA will seek membership in 63 international organizations, reports Ha’aretz.
In doing so, the PA would violate promises not to make unilateral moves seeking international recognition during the peace talks.
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, charged with managing the talks, has said the PA’s demand for no construction violates agreements, as no building freeze was set as part of peace talk conditions.
After initial reports of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu instituting a building freeze next week, Netanyahu let it be known that he will announce building tenders on 1,400 new Judea and Samaria homes instead. The move is timed to coincide with the release of 20 terrorists as peace talk “gestures.”
Bereaved father and current events analyst Dr. Aryeh Bachrach called Netanyahu a “scoundrel,” saying his use of building announcements to cover terrorist releases was an act to fool voters.
Regarding the release, the Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a petition to halt the controversial move until clear criteria are established regarding the release of terrorists.
This is not the first time Erekat has threatened to take Israel to the Hague. In November he did so as well, accusing Israel of “poisoning” former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat. Russian experts this week refuted claims that Arafat was poisoned; nevertheless the PA pledged to continue investigations.