Is PA halting all agreements with Israel another toothless decision?
The Palestinian Authority will stop abiding by the 1995 Oslo II agreement with regard to the classification of areas in the West Bank at the administrative and security levels. But what does this mean for Palestinians?
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced during a Cabinet meeting in Ramallah July 22 that the Palestinian government will stop abiding by the 1995 Oslo II agreement with regard to the classification of areas in the West Bank at the administrative and security levels. This comes in response to Israel’s recent demolition of buildings in the West Bank adjacent to East Jerusalem that are under Palestinian Authority (PA) control as per the Oslo Accord.
“Most of the buildings that were demolished and threatened to be demolished fall within areas classified as A and B under the PA administrative control. With this attack, the Israeli occupation forces abolished the areas’ classifications and we will do the same. Israel has violated the signed international agreements,” Shtayyeh said.
As per the Oslo Accord, Area A includes the main Palestinian population centers under the PA’s administrative and security control and makes up 18% of the West Bank. Area B is under the PA’s administrative control and Israel’s security control and makes up 21% of the West Bank. Area C, which makes up 61% of the West Bank, is under Israeli administrative and security control.
The Oslo Accord was supposed to expire five years after its signing, during which Palestinian-Israeli talks would be held to find final solutions to several main issues including the issue of Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, borders and waters. Both sides have yet to reach a comprehensive peace agreement and the Oslo agreement is still in place.
