By Elaine Donnelly
Extending sexual misconduct to combat units
Palestinians will oppose Israel nonviolently if the Jewish state proceeds with plans to build settlements between Jerusalem and the West Bank, the top Palestinian official in Washington said Friday.
Palestinian officials on Monday lamented that their quest for statehood has taken a back seat to Iran's nuclear program and President Obama's re-election campaign, a day after Mr. Obama delivered a defense of his Mideast policy to a top pro-Israel lobbying group.
Palestinian leaders told the Obama administration they are ready to accept nearly any security arrangements for a Palestinian state demanded by Israel, according to a senior official of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
"Any future reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas must be based on a common denominator, and the PLO has clearly stated … that we are not planning to move toward Hamas’ position when it comes to how we need to resolve the conflict," he said.
"It is very obvious that they have not done that. … Look at the issue of the settlements and us going to the United Nations," he said. "Everybody in the world knows that the settlements are illegal. … What have they done to hold Israel accountable?"
