The PA (Palestinian Authority) is not playing the diplomatic game as in the past, and while Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is working to signal the international community he remains genuinely interested in a resumption of the diplomatic process, the PA has other plans. PA sources are indicating that that will wait until June 3, 2013, and if satisfactory progress has not been made, it will once again turn to the United Nations to gain the international recognition they seek for statehood.

In the past, the PA was successful in obtaining non-member observer nation status in the UN General Assembly in a move that defied the position of both Israel and the United States. PA leaders learned that despite American objections and threats to withhold funding, it has survived. In addition, Secretary of State Kerry is now working to pump billions of dollars from corporate investors into the PA, so at the end of the day, the PA has lost nothing.

PA officials have already informed US Secretary of State John Kerry that the deadline is June 3rd. At that time, the PA will once again act unilaterally to advance its cause. When Kerry and President Barak Obama were visiting in March 2013, the PA told Kerry it would refrain from turning to the UN at this time, but set a deadline for that waiting period, which now appears to be the June date.

At the behest of the White house the PA has also agreed not to take its case against Israel to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. This commitment is contingent on Israel’s holding off on its threat to move ahead with construction in the E1 area, situated between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem. That threat was announced by Israel in response to the PA’s move to the UN when it gained observer status. PA officials insist that if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu begins construction in the E1 area as he says he will, the PA will head to the international court.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)