ISRAEL THREAT TO UN IF PALESTINIAN STATE IS RECOGNIZED

Israel threatens unilateral steps if UN recognizes Palestinian state
Foreign Ministry instructs envoys in 30 countries to send 'diplomatic protest' to host nations over plan for September vote in General Assembly.

By Barak Ravid . March 29-11

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-threatens-unilateral-steps-if-un-recognizes-palestinian-state-1.352423

Israel informed the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council last week, as well as several other prominent European Union countries, that if the Palestinian Authority persists in its efforts to gain recognition in September as a state within the 1967 borders, Israel would respond with a series of unilateral steps of its own.

Senior Foreign Ministry officials said the ministry's director general, Rafael Barak, sent a classified cable last week to more than 30 Israeli embassies, directing them to lodge a diplomatic protest at the highest possible level in response to the Palestinian efforts to gain international recognition for statehood at the UN General Assembly session in September.

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Israel cuts ties with PA if new unified government formed
http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=233777

Israel will cut ties with the Palestinian Authority (PA) if it brings Hamas into the formation of the new unified national government, the Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday.

Israel will cut ties with the Palestinian Authority (PA) if it brings Hamas into the formation of the new unified national government, the Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday.

The newspaper said on its website that de facto Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held "candid and positive" talks on Saturday about unifying Palestinian factions with Hamas delegation in Ramallah for the first time in over a year.

It noted that the Ramallah's meeting between Abbas and the Hamas delegation discussed ways of ending the dispute between Hamas and Fatah factions, following Abbas' recent offer to visit the Gaza Strip for talks with Hamas leaders on achieving Palestinian unity.

Abbas' offer to visit the Gaza Strip led to a further division among Hamas leaders of which some have welcomed it, while others have announced that Abbas was unwelcome in the Gaza Strip, the newspaper added.

Abbas briefed the Hamas officials on his initiative, saying it was aimed at discussing the formation of a new government that consists of independent figures to prepare for presidential and legislative elections, and rebuild the Gaza Strip.

"We must deal with the changes in the region and confront together the challenges facing the Palestinians, first and foremost the continued Israeli aggression and threats to launch a fresh attack on the Gaza Strip," Abbas was quoted as saying.

He told Hamas officials that it was important to abide by a cease-fire in order not to give Israel an excuse to pursue its threats and to tackle the difficult internal situation facing the Palestinian cause, especially with regards to the September deadline, when the Palestinians are scheduled to seek UN recognition of a Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu asked the PA, few days ago, to choose between either peace with Hamas, and peace with Israel.