Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, on Thursday night criticized the Palestinian Authority (PA) over a report that it is planning to push a Security Council resolution condemning Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria.
“The Palestinians must understand that there are no shortcuts. The only way to promote negotiations starts by them condemning terrorism and stopping the incitement, and ends with direct negotiations between the two sides,” Danon said.
“They are continuing to deceive the international community by putting forward initiatives that do nothing to better the lives of either side of this conflict,” added the Israeli Ambassador.
Earlier on Thursday, Haaretz reported that the PA had circulated a copy of the draft resolution to a number of members of the UN Security Council.
The draft reportedly states that the “settlements” are an obstacle to peace and Israel must cease construction.
PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas would like to bring the resolution to a vote during his visit to UN Headquarters in New York in about two weeks, according to Haaretz.
The move marks the latest effort by the PA to embarrass Israel and have it condemned in international institutions.
In 2014, the PA submitted a resolution to the UN which called for Israel to “end the occupation” - that is, to withdraw from Judea and Samaria - by 2017.
The draft resolution would have set a 12-month deadline for wrapping up negotiations on a final settlement and the end of 2017 as the time frame for completing an Israeli withdrawal from Judea and Samaria.
The resolution was put to a vote in the UN Security Council late last year, but failed to secure enough votes in favor to pass. Abbas later said he would go to the UN again and try to have a withdrawal from Judea and Samaria imposed on Israel.