NEW YORK: Frustrated with the diplomatic inertia over the two state solution, and a constant state of war in Gaza, Palestinian Presi­dent Mahmoud Abbas is expected to ask the United Nations Security Council to force Israel to end its occupation within three years.

This was stated by Palestinian spokesperson Ha­n­­nan Ashrawi at a press conference here on Tuesday. She told reporters Palest­inians would use Palestine’s observer status at the United Nations, an upgrade won nearly two years ago over Israeli and American opposition, to join the International Criminal Court and seek the prosecution of Israeli behavior in the occupied territories.

“We are intending to take Israel to the ICC,” Dr Ashrawi, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organi­sation and of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

“We do not have a time frame”, she added.

In a report, the New York Times said Mr Abbas has advanced his new deadline strategy amid signs that his popularity as a Palestinian leader has faltered in part because of the 50-day Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that dominates in Gaza and that does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. The war was halted by an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire a week ago.

Dr Ashrawi, one of the most outspoken advocates of International Criminal Court membership, spoke as part of a new effort by Abbas to shift strategies in pursuit of the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, after the collapse of the American-brokered peace.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2014