Senior PA (Palestinian Authority) official Ahmed Majdalani told the PA Maan News Agency on Sunday 22 Elul that the PA leadership will soon announce the Oslo Agreements are null and void.

The Oslo Agreements were signed between 1993-1995 which included Israel recognizing the PA as the representative of the Palestinian People, Israel to withdraw from Gaza and Yericho, and that the PA would take charge of areas of Yehuda, Shomron and Gaza. The PA has been given levels of control in areas ‘A’ (total PA control) and ‘B’ (Israeli control over security & PA control over civil matters). There are also a number of security and economic agreements signed by Israel and the PA.

According to Majdalani, the decision will be discussed by the PA National Council in a week’s time and PA Chairman Abu Mazen will declare the move in his address to be given in the UN General Assembly. He states the PA leader is expected to put an end to the so-called Oslo Process by declaring the agreements null and void from the PA perspective since they have not led to the establishment of the independent state of Palestine.

Arab media last month reported that Abu Mazen is desperate because of the political stalemate and the lack of international pressure on Israel to compel Jerusalem to make the necessary concessions towards the establishment of Palestine.

Abu Mazen last week spoke with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who urged him not to resign as he indicated he will do. Keri told Abu Mazen that such a move cannot be tolerated at present since a “political vacuum could be exploited by extremist elements”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)