The Palestinian representative to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, said to Security Council members Tuesday that Israel was committing “war crimes” and supporting acts of “terror” against his people.
His statements came as the United States is trying to schedule peace talks in Washington between Israelis and Palestinians — and as authorities from both sides say publicly they are interested in forging a deal.
Mr. Mansour slammed Israel further, decrying the nation’s continued building in the West Bank and what he termed as land confiscations and the ousting of Palestinian citizens, Ynet News reported.
He also said Palestinian leaders have not set any conditions to start up peace talks, though Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was reported by Jordanian media to have said just days ago that “any solution must remove Israel permanently from Palestinian land,” a suggestion at pre-1967 borders. Meanwhile, he seemed to make clear that border issues were the roadblock to peace talks.
Mr. Mansour said, as Ynet News reported: “Israel speaks of negotiations without preconditions, but sets conditions on the ground. Settlements are the main obstacle to peace and sabotage any effort to achieve a two-state solution.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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