Riyad Al-Maliki
Riyad Al-MalikiReuters

The Palestinian Authority charged Arab states allied with the US of tacitly backing Israel’s plan to apply sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria, after Arab leaders refused to deny reports they have quietly given their support to the plan.

Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian Authority foreign affairs chief, blasted Arab leaders for refusing to deny recent reports that moderate Sunni states including Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have tacitly accepted Israel’s plan to apply sovereignty over about 30% of Judea and Samaria.

“We reached out through official and unofficial channels to get responses and clarifications in this matter, yet till now we haven’t gotten any response or unequivocal denial to these reports,” said al-Maliki in an interview with Voice of Palestine Monday.

Al-Maliki said the Palestinian Authority would continue to lobby foreign leaders, including in the European Union, to pressure Israel not to move forward with the sovereignty plan, and called on world leaders to be prepared to back up the pressure with sanctions against Israel should the sovereignty plan be implemented.

“At the same time, we’re working with the international community to pressure the Israeli government not to continue with its annexation plans, which will lead to a wave of violence, terror, and instability.”

“The international community needs to make it clear to the Israeli government that this plan will lead to Apartheid, and will ultimately result in the imposition of sanctions on Israel. Our activities with the United Nations and the international community are meant to isolate Israel and the Trump administration.”

Anwar Gargash, the United Arab Emirates foreign minister, spoke out Monday morning against Israel’s sovereignty plan, calling for an end to “Israeli talk of annexing Palestinian lands”.

“Continued Israeli talk of annexing Palestinian lands must stop,” tweeted Gargash. “Any unilateral Israeli move will be a serious setback for the peace process, undermine Palestinian self determination & constitute a rejection of the international & Arab consensus towards stability & peace.”

Last week, multiple officials from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt said that Arab states allied with the US had accepted Israel’s sovereignty plan, and would not risk either their relationship with the Trump administration, nor their de facto alliance with Israel against Tehran by working to block the sovereignty plan.

Hours later, PLO Secretary-General and PA parliamentarian Saeb Erekat responded to the report, saying that the Palestinian Authority would demand clarification from Arab leaders on the issue of Israel’s sovereignty plan.