Abbas warns Israel over current situation in W. Bank

Xinhua, August 3, 2015

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday warned Israel over the current deteriorating situation in the West Bank after a Palestinian toddler was burnt to death, saying the Palestinians may change their position.

Abbas made the warning during his meeting with an Israeli delegation representing the Israeli Meretz left-wing Party who came to express grief over the killing of 18-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha by Israeli settlers near Nablus on Friday.

"If the situation with Israel continues like that, mainly during this month, the Palestinian position might change," Abbas said, without elaborating what will be the Palestinian position or how it will change.

Abbas said "the Palestinians never adopt violence and terrorism. Our policy of keeping our hands extended for peace will remain," adding that "but if Israel doesn't change its policy, our position will be certainly different."

"When we decided to go to the International Criminal Court, the world was turned upside down," he said, holding the United States responsible.

Asked about the contacts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the Jewish arson attack and the death of the Palestinian child, Abbas said "I got a phone call from the Israeli prime minister and the president who offered condolences, and then what's next?"