Palestinians: If Netanyahu Reelected, We’ll Cut Ties

Palestinian Authority officials have issued a warning today, just weeks ahead of the Israeli general elections, that the reelection of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would lead them to a series of measures aimed at isolating Israel and forcing them back to the negotiating table.

The officials say that a new Netanyahu government, assuming it doesn’t show signs of restarting peace talks, would see cooperation with Palestinian security forces end, mass protests in the occupied West Bank, and calls for the international courts to start war crimes proceedings.

Virtually no meaningful peace talks have gone on during Netanyahu’s last term in office, and the lack of progress has not been a political issue as opposition parties believe that Israelis are ambivalent on the process. Israel has recent announced several massive expansions of settlements in the West Bank, leaving questions of whether a Palestinian state will even be possible anymore.

Though Netanyahu’s Likud-Beiteinu list is expected to win a plurality of seats, it is unclear if it will be able to form the next government, as a falling out with the religious right has left them short of potential partners for a coalition government.