PA Chairman Abbas
PA Chairman AbbasFlash 90

Issa Karaka, the Palestinian Authority's Minister for Prisoner Affairs, is urging PA chief Mahmoud Abbas to enroll the PA in as many international organizations as possible as quickly as is feasible, in order to capitalize on the recognition the PA received at the United Nations last year and use its standing in the international community to sue and prosecute Israel.

At a press conference in Ramallah Sunday, Karaka said that the PA should join the Geneva Convention, and once admitted, use the Convention's provisions to prosecute Israel in the International Criminal Court for “crimes against the Palestinian nation,” he said.

Speaking at the press conference, the head of the Al-Haq organization, Shawan Jabrin, said that international law was an excellent tool for the PA to pursue its agenda against Israel. “All the issues that are outstanding, such as settlements, the security fence and prisoners, can be used to achieve the rights of the Palestinians,” he said.

Last week, speaking at the AIPAC convention, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said that the PA was planning a massive legal assault on Israel. “The PA's aim is to take Israel to the International Criminal Court in the Hague,” said Baird. “This will certainly have implications for Canada's relationship with the PA.”

Baird expressed hope that the PA would keep to its agreements and refrain from taking Israel to court over these issues.