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The real story on Palestine's UN treaties

The 15 international treaties signed by the Palestinians have no major effect on Israel.
A Palestinian woman presents her identification as she waits to receive food supplies from a United Nations food distribution centre in Gaza City December 19, 2013. Almost a million people are expected to need food aid in the Gaza Strip next year, a U.N. agency said on Wednesday as it appealed for $95 million from donors. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY) - RTX16O8Y

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ decision to join some 15 international treaties will not have any major, direct effect on Israel. Despite the Israeli hoopla about the April 1 accession of Palestine to various international treaties, none of the treaties have any direct impact on the status of the occupied territories.

Palestine committed itself in these treaties to various human rights conventions as well as laws of war treaties. International jurists argue that these treaties actually place more liabilities on the Palestinian government and have absolutely no effect on Israel and its status as the occupying power.

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