Abbas threatens to dissolve Palestinian Authority

TEL AVIV Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has warned that he will disband Palestinian Authority if there is no Israeli movement towards renewing peace talks. Abbas told Israeli daily Haaretz that if such a situation arose he would hand full responsibility for the occupied West Bank to the Israeli government, AFP has reported. Abbas threatens to dissolve Palestinian Authority "If there is no progress even after the election, I will take the phone and call (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu. I'll tell him... Sit in the chair here instead of me, take the keys, and you will be responsible for the Palestinian Authority,” Abbas was quoted as saying. The Israeli elections will be held on January 22. "Once the new government in Israel is in place, Netanyahu will have to decide - yes or no," he added. Former Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Friday, however, that Islamist Hamas would take over the West Bank if Abbas, who is a leader of rival Fatah, remained in power. He added that it would be possible to reopen the peace negotiations only if Abbas stepped down. Talks between the two sides have been on hold since September 2010, with the Palestinians insisting on a settlement freeze before returning to the negotiating table and the Israelis insisting on no preconditions. Following last month's historic UN vote giving the Palestinians upgraded status in the world body, Israel announced a new spate of settlement building in the West Bank and Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. In the interview, Abbas also warned that since then Israel had also reduced security coordination with Palestinian forces in the West Bank. He said he would be willing to renew negotiations with Netanyahu after the election but would demand that Israel freeze further settlement construction while they are being held, renew the transfer of Palestinian tax revenues that Israel has been withholding and release some 120 long-term Palestinian prisoners, AFP has reported. Abbas pointed out that “these are not preconditions, these are commitments Israel already took upon itself in the past.” Mahmoud Abbas (Beta/AP, file) Tanjug

Abbas threatens to dissolve Palestinian Authority

"If there is no progress even after the election, I will take the phone and call (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu. I'll tell him... Sit in the chair here instead of me, take the keys, and you will be responsible for the Palestinian Authority,” Abbas was quoted as saying.

The Israeli elections will be held on January 22.

"Once the new government in Israel is in place, Netanyahu will have to decide - yes or no," he added.

Former Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Friday, however, that Islamist Hamas would take over the West Bank if Abbas, who is a leader of rival Fatah, remained in power. He added that it would be possible to reopen the peace negotiations only if Abbas stepped down.

Talks between the two sides have been on hold since September 2010, with the Palestinians insisting on a settlement freeze before returning to the negotiating table and the Israelis insisting on no preconditions.

Following last month's historic UN vote giving the Palestinians upgraded status in the world body, Israel announced a new spate of settlement building in the West Bank and Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.

In the interview, Abbas also warned that since then Israel had also reduced security coordination with Palestinian forces in the West Bank.

He said he would be willing to renew negotiations with Netanyahu after the election but would demand that Israel freeze further settlement construction while they are being held, renew the transfer of Palestinian tax revenues that Israel has been withholding and release some 120 long-term Palestinian prisoners, AFP has reported.

Abbas pointed out that “these are not preconditions, these are commitments Israel already took upon itself in the past.”