Sir, – Agreements should be respected. Yet in September, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is expected to violate its agreements with Israel and the entire framework for Mideast peace by seeking premature recognition of a Palestinian state in the UN (“Palestinians seek Irish support for UN vote”, Mary FitzGerald, World News, July 12th).
Israel remains dedicated to direct negotiations as the only method of resolving the conflict. The Palestinian leadership has embarked on the path of unilateral action that harms true peace, challenging the basic principles of Mideast peacemaking. It undermines all internationally accepted frameworks for peace, including UN SC Resolutions 242, 338, 1850 and the Peace Roadmap, that call for an agreed resolution of the conflict and reject unilateral actions.
The interim agreement from 1995, expressly prohibiting unilateral action by either side, would be breached. This agreement makes no reference directly to the issue of settlements, stipulating final status issues should be discussed directly. So it is accepted that Israel is not in breach of this agreement.
Premature recognition would ignore Israel’s legitimate concerns, especially regarding security issues. It would also allow the Palestinians to continue to avoid the important mutual recognition of Israel’s right to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people, side by side with a Palestinian state.
Moreover, the Palestinian Authority currently fails to meet the established legal tests for statehood by not having effective control over the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, which is still run by a dark regime which opposes gay and women’s rights. Recognition at this time would constitute recognition of a terrorist entity that seeks Israel’s destruction.
On the other hand, Israel has a long proven track record of making concessions for peace. It had abandoned Sinai for peace with Egypt and left South Lebanon.
Only through direct negotiations can a lasting peace agreement be reached. – Yours, etc,