ZCZC
BFF-25
ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-CONFLICT-GOLAN
Palestinian president slams US dropping ‘occupied’ in report
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories, March 14, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A spokesman
for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has criticised a US move to no longer
refer to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights as occupied territories
in its annual human rights report.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh called it “a continuation of the hostile approach of
the American administration toward our Palestinian people and… contrary to
all UN resolutions.”
In a statement carried by official Palestinian news agency WAFA late
Wednesday, he said the change was part of US President Donald Trump’s plan to
“liquidate” the Palestinian cause.
Trump is expected to unveil his long-awaited plan for Israeli-Palestinian
peace in the coming months, even though the Palestinian leadership has frozen
contact with Washington over Trump’s 2017 declaration of Jerusalem as
Israel’s capital.
Palestinians believe the upcoming plan will be blatantly biased in favour
of Israel.
In its latest human rights report published Wednesday, the United States
referred to the Golan Heights as “Israeli-controlled” as opposed to “Israeli-
occupied”.
Another semantic change that appeared in last year’s report showed up
again this year, with a section titled “Israel, Golan Heights, West Bank and
Gaza,” instead of its previous “Israel and the Occupied Territories” heading.
The US State Department insisted the different wording did not mean a
change in policy.
Israel occupied the Golan Heights, West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza
Strip in the 1967 Six-Day War.
It later annexed the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem in moves never
recognised by the international community.
It has withdrawn from the Gaza Strip, but has fought three wars with
Palestinian militants there and maintains a blockade of the territory.
Israel’s occupation of the West Bank continues.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1507 hrs