U.N. Deposits Palestinian Request to Join 13 Treaties, Israel Freezes Tax Transfers in Retaliation
The United Nations said Thursday it had accepted for deposit, in keeping with international procedure, a request from the Palestinians to join 13 international conventions and treaties, as Israel froze the transfer of some taxes to the Palestinian Authority as a retaliatory measure.
The requests were submitted to U.N. headquarters on April 2 by Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour.
The treaties include the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, the convention on the rights of the child, the convention against torture, and the one against corruption.
"The secretary general has ascertained that the instruments received were in due and proper form before accepting them for deposit," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
In keeping with procedure, all member states had been informed.
"It is important to emphasize that it is for states to make their own determination with respect to any legal issues raised by instruments circulated by the secretary general," Dujarric said.
The requests, in principle, take effect 30 days after the secretary general receives the letter of accession.
The Palestinian Authority has also asked Switzerland if it can join the Fourth Geneva Convention from August 1949 and the first additional protocol.
And it has asked the Netherlands if it can join the Hague Convention of 1907 on laws and customs governing war.
The requests came as peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis were close to collapse, with Israel making a new bid to expand settlements in annexed Arab east Jerusalem and the Palestinians taking fresh steps towards seeking recognition of their promised state.
The Palestinians had pledged to freeze all moves to seek membership in U.N. organizations during the talks in return for Israel's release of the veteran Arab prisoners.
Later on Thursday, Israel said it has frozen the transfer of taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinians in retaliation for their seeking accession to the international treaties.
"It has been decided to freeze the transfer to the Palestinian Authority of the taxes collected by Israel on its behalf," an Israeli official told Agence France Presse on condition of anonymity.
He also said Israel was suspending its participation with the Palestinians in developing a gas field off the Gaza Strip and putting a cap on Palestinian deposits in its banks.
Source: Agence France Presse
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