Ramallah: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says if deadlocked peace talks fail, he may dissolve his self-rule government and ask Israel to resume full control of the West Bank.
Mr. Abbas told Palestine TV in an interview late Friday that such a step is a last resort. However, his comments were seen as the most explicit threat yet that dissolving the Palestinian Authority is a possibility.
Such a step would require Israel, as an occupier, to resume full responsibility again for 2.2 million Palestinians in the West Bank.
With the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, generously funded by foreign aid, Israel was relieved of that burden. At the same time, Israel kept full control over 60 per cent of the West Bank.
Mr. Abbas could face domestic opposition to the dissolving the Palestinian Authority, which employs some 150,000 Palestinians.
Bureau Report
