Deputy Foreign Minister meets countries that fund PA, warns assistance "could be severely and irreparably compromised."
By Gil Ronen
First Publish: 9/19/2011, 9:35 AM
Donors' meeting in UN
Norway UN / Emma K Lyderse
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told the Palestinian DonorsConference held at the United Nations that Israel is interested in continuing to assist Palestinian economic development, but this position could be affected if the Palestinian Authority (PA) unilaterally declares a state.
"Future assistance and cooperation could be severely and irreparably compromised if the Palestinianleadership continues on its path of essentially acting in contravention of all signed agreements which also regulate existing economic relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority," Ayalon told the conference, which was hosted by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, and chaired by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
Ayalon called on the international community to use its influence to call on the PA to refrain from taking unilateral steps damaging for the peace process. "The international community and especially donors to the Palestinian Authority should ask for minimal standards of diplomatic practice by the Palestinians," Ayalon said.
The PA was represented by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Ayalon laid out all of Israel's activities that have assisted the continued growth in Palestinian economy during the past few years, and how cooperation with Israel is essential for the Palestinian Authority's institution building. However, the DeputyForeign Minister warned the Palestinians that all of this will be affected by the Palestinian initiative to bypass negotiations and impose their demands on the international community.
Ayalon also warned that unilaterally declaring statehood will have legal ramifications for any future cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians. "The State of Israel signed the Oslo Accords with the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which created the Palestinian Authority. Israel will have absolutely no obligations towards a so-called Palestinian state, especially one created artificially in this building, in breach of these very accords," Ayalon told the donors conference.
