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Abbas Tears Up Security Agreements with Israel, US

VOA News

   PalestinianPresidentMahmoud Abbas says the Palestinian Authority is
   tearing up its agreements with Israel and the United States& because of
   Israeli plans to annex part of the occupied West Bank.

   These include the 1990 Oslo accords thatgive
   thePalestinianslimitedself-governance in the West Bank and Gaza.

   "The Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine are
   no longer committed to all signed agreements and understandings with
   the Israeli government and the American government, including the
   security commitments," Abbas said. The announcement was made at a
   Palestinian leadership meeting late Tuesday.

   Abbassaid it was up to Israel to "uphold responsibilities before the
   international community as the occupying power."

   This was not the first time Abbas had threatened toback out
   ofsecurityandother agreements with Israel and the U.S.

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