Portrait of Mahmoud Abbas
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Mahmoud Abbas on Oslo Accords

Declares no longer bound (strong)

TL;DR

Mahmoud Abbas has declared the Palestinians are no longer bound by the Oslo Accords due to Israeli non-compliance.

Key Points

  • In a September 2015 speech at the UN, he stated Palestinians would “no longer continue to be bound” by the Oslo agreements.

  • He asserted that if Israel refuses to cease settlement activities and release prisoners per the agreements, Palestinians are absolved of commitment.

  • Abbas has previously stated that no concessions were made by Palestinians regarding the Oslo Accords, which were intended to lead to statehood.

Summary

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, has taken the position that the Palestinians are unilaterally absolved of commitment to the Oslo Accords, based on the claim that Israel has systematically breached the agreements over time. In a significant 2015 address to the UN General Assembly, he stated that the Palestinians could “no longer continue to be bound” by the accords if Israel failed to adhere to its commitments, such as ceasing settlement activities and releasing prisoners. He further asserted that if the agreements were one-sided, Israel must then assume all responsibilities as an occupying power under international law.

This stance is contextualized by a long-held Palestinian frustration with the agreements' implementation, particularly following the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Rabin and subsequent Israeli actions like settlement expansion. While the accords established the Palestinian Authority and were the foundation for a two-state solution, Abbas argued that Israeli violations rendered the PA an authority without real powers. Despite threatening to drop a “bombshell,” he did not announce the dissolution of the PA, leaving open the interpretation of his declaration as a major warning or a shift in diplomatic posture rather than an immediate operational change.

Key Quotes

“As long as Israel refuses to commit to the agreements signed with us, which render us an authority without real powers, and as long as Israel refuses to cease settlement activities and to release of the fourth group of Palestinian prisoners in accordance with our agreements, they leave us no choice but to insist that we will not remain the only ones committed to the implementation of these agreements, while Israel continuously violates them,” Abbas said.

“We cannot continue to be bound by these signed agreements with Israel and Israel must assume fully its responsibilities of an occupying power, because the status quo cannot continue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mahmoud Abbas views the Oslo Accords as defunct due to what he cites as consistent Israeli violations of their terms. He has explicitly stated that the Palestinians are no longer bound by the agreements under these conditions.

Yes, his stance has evolved from a commitment to implementing the agreements to publicly declaring that the Palestinians are no longer bound by them. This shift occurred around 2015, driven by perceived Israeli failures to uphold their end of the bargain.

In his 2015 UN address, Mahmoud Abbas declared the agreements void unless the international community offered protection and Israel fulfilled its obligations. He asserted that Israel must then assume full responsibility as an occupying power.