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world NEWSThursday 1 October 2015
Abbas: Palestinians no longer bound by pacts with Israel Dutch end bid for
ZEINA KARAM
KARIN LAUB
Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (AP) —
Palestinian President Mah-
moud Abbas told world
leaders Wednesday that
he is no longer bound by
agreements that have de-
fined relations with Israel for
the past two decades and
are meant to form the ba-
sis for a two-state solution
to the Middle East conflict.
But what sounded like a
potentially explosive dec-
laration was blunted by
the lack of any detail on
how he plans to move for-
ward.
Addressing the United Na-
tions General Assembly,
Abbas said Israel had re-
peatedly violated its com-
mitments, most notably by
expanding settlements in
the West Bank and east Je-
rusalem, on lands the Pal-
estinians seek for a future
state.
Abbas’ speech reflected
growing Palestinian frustra-
tion and appeared aimed
at focusing the attention of
the international commu-
nity — busy with the Syrian
civil war and the migrants’
crisis in Europe — on the
long-festering Israeli-Pales-
tinian conflict.
However, the Palestinian
leader stopped short of
specific threats that would
irrevocably put him on a
collision course with Israel,
such as suspending secu-
rity cooperation. Instead,
he closed on a concil-
iatory note, saying that
Iraqi Kurds drive Islamic State out of villages Saudi Arabia simply off the
BRAM JANSSEN
Associated Press
IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Kurd-
ish fighters in northern Iraq
drove the Islamic State
group from more than 140
sq. kilometers (54 sq. miles)
of territory near the oil-rich
city of Kirkuk and cleared
part of a major highway
Wednesday.
The Kurdish peshmerga
fighters backed by U.S.-
led airstrikes pushed the
militants beyond Ghara
Heights and Mount Batiwa,
south of Kirkuk, and se-
cured a stretch of a high-
way which connects Kirkuk
a UN fact-finding
eventual peace between proof that he has no inten- settlements, and called on mission in Yemen
Israelis and Palestinians is tion of reaching a peace the U.N. to provide inter-
“in the interest of our future agreement,” he said. national protection for the JAMEY KEATEN
generations.” No serious talks have been Palestinians. Associated Press
Israeli Prime Minister Ben- held since Netanyahu The Palestinians “will not GENEVA (AP) — Dutch
jamin Netanyahu’s office came to power in 2009. remain the only ones com- diplomats on Wednesday
issued a statement in re- Abbas says he will not re- mitted to the implementa- dropped their attempt at
the top U.N. human rights
A woman carries a painting of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as others fly their national body to launch a fact-find-
ing mission in war-torn Ye-
flags following his speech at the U.N. General Assembly shown on TV in the West Bank city of men, clearing the way for
a rival initiative led by Saudi
Ramallah, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared before Arabia — a major protago-
nist in the conflict.
world leaders Wednesday that he is no longer bound by agreements signed with Israel, and Two days before the end
of the Human Rights Coun-
called on the United Nations to provide international protection for the Palestinian people. cil session in Geneva, the
Netherlands withdrew its
(AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) proposal that had sought
the deployment of a mission
sponse, saying that Abbas turn to negotiations with- tion of these agreements, under the U.N. human rights
chief to report on possible
had delivered a “speech out a settlement freeze while Israel continuously conflict-related crimes in
Yemen. The U.N. estimates
of lies that encourages in- and an Israeli recognition violates them,” Abbas that at least 2,355 civilians
have died since fighting es-
citement and unrest in the of the pre-1967 frontier as said. “We therefore de- calated in March.
The less-ambitious Saudi
Middle East.” the basis for border talks. clare that we cannot con- alternative wants the hu-
man rights chief to provide
Netanyahu called on Ab- Unlike some of his prede- tinue to be bound by these “technical assistance” to
Yemen’s government and
bas to “act responsibly” cessors, Netanyahu has re- agreements and that Israel give an oral report to the
council on the human rights
and answer his proposal fused to accept the 1967 must assume all of its re- situation. It also reiterates
calls for Shiite militias, known
for direct negotiations with line as a starting point. sponsibilities as an occupy- as Houthis, and forces loy-
al to former President Ali
Israel without any precon- Abbas said Wednesday ing power.” Abdullah Saleh “to engage
in the political process.” A
ditions. “The fact that time that Israel has repeatedly Israel’s actions “render us Saudi-led, U.S.-backed mili-
tary coalition with blistering
after time he (Abbas) does violated its commitments, an authority without real air power is fighting those
groups.
not respond is the best including by expanding powers,” he said.q Human rights groups ex-
pressed disappointment
with the withdrawal of the
proposal.
“The question is really what
happened — and why is
hook for massive bomb-
to the central city of Sa- nalists. The Kurdish govern- tacks on Kirkuk in its bid to ing affecting civilian life
marra, a statement from ment said some militants expand access to oil re- and (that) probably may
the Kurdistan Region Secu- were seen fleeing toward sources, but peshmerga constitute war crimes?”
rity Council said. the contested town of fighters have managed to said Philippe Dam, deputy
The villages of Meziriya, Hawijah. defend the city. director for Human Rights
Gubebe, Seda, Moham- The IS group swept across A statement from the U.S.- Watch in Geneva.
med Khalil, Qows Kurd, Tal northern Iraq in the summer led coalition Wednesday The United States had ex-
Ward, Khalef and Man- of 2014 and holds roughly noted three airstrikes near pressed support for the
souria — all south of Kirkuk a third of Iraq and neigh- Kirkuk over the previous Dutch position, but also
— were purged of militants, boring Syria. Kurdish fight- day, which it said had de- favored efforts at compro-
the statement said. ers made significant ad- stroyed a tactical unit, 10 mise on the issue. A Dutch
At least 10 peshmerga vances against the militant rocket rails, a weapons diplomat declined com-
fighters died in the opera- group early this year, but cache, five militant vehi- ment, and the U.S. and
tion and another 16 were their progress has stalled cles and a car bomb. An- Saudi ambassadors did not
wounded, according to a around areas the extrem- other eight airstrikes were immediately respond to
senior security official, who ists view as strategic — par- conducted in the area text messages and emails
spoke on condition of an- ticularly near the border. around Hawijah over the seeking comment.
onymity because he was The militant group has same period, the state- Dam said there was a lack
not authorized to brief jour- launched numerous at- ment said.q of transparency about
coalition operations in
Yemen.q