2-Jan-12 World View: Palestinians Plan to Put Israel Under ‘International Siege’

2-Jan-12 World View: Palestinians Plan to Put Israel Under ‘International Siege’

clipped from article:Palestinians plan to put Israel under ‘international siege’

Agreeing to talk (but not negotiate) with Israelis on Tuesday “will be the start of an unprecedented diplomatic campaign on the part of the Palestinian leadership, and it will be a year of pressure on Israel that will put it under a real international siege. The campaign will be similar to the one waged against apartheid in South Africa,” according to Palestinian official Nabil Sha’ath.

According to information that has reached Israel, the Palestinians are considering several steps as part of their campaign:

Asking the UN Security Council in February to pass a resolution that would condemn settlement construction and impose international sanctions on Israel. If a resolution were brought to a vote, all Security Council members other than the United States would be expected to vote in favor.
Urging the International Criminal Court in The Hague to try Israel for war crimes related to Operation Cast Lead.
Pushing for the implementation the articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention that ban the construction of communities and transfer of populations in occupied territory.
Asking the UN General Assembly or the UN Human Rights Council to send an international fact-finding committee to look into the settlement issue.
Renewing efforts in the UN Security Council to secure full-membership status for Palestine, or asking the UN General Assembly for status as a nonmember state.
Organizing mass rallies against Israel in the West Bank, as part of a non-violent popular uprising. This will be a combined effort with Hamas.

The diplomatic campaign is expected to begin January 26. Haaretz [read more at link]