The Palestinian Authority is considering a new tactic to win international sympathy – filing suits in several countries alleging Israelis practice “terror,” particularly Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ legal adviser Hasan al-Auri told the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency that he wants to file suits in countries that accept appeals to prosecute foreigners, even though they have no relations to the same nations.
Israel “as the occupier should protect the people under occupation rather than watch as they are being assaulted,” according to al-Auri. He said he has informed the Quartet and the United Nations, where Abbas is expected to try to win non-member observer status for the PA this year.
Last year, he failed to win the needed two-thirds majority on the United Nations Security Council to recommend to the General Assembly that it accept the Palestinian Authority as a member state, based n Abbas’ unilateral political and territorial demands.
Winning observer status is no problem for Abbas because he needs only the approval of the General Assembly, where he has a guaranteed majority.
Al-Auri said he will not file sits in Israeli courts because “Israel would protect them “using false justifications to their conduct.”
He did not define what “terrorism” Israelis have committed but named Lieberman as of several Israeli leaders who would be the object of lawsuits for “practicing terrorism.”
Al-Auri admitted that the Oslo Accords undermine the PA’s chance of winning lawsuits because of a clause that states it cannot impose punishment on Israelis.