Palestinians Defy U.S. and Israel, Leaving Peace Talks in Peril
Defying the United States and Israel, the Palestinian leadership formally submitted applications on Wednesday to join 15 international agencies, leaving the troubled Middle East talks brokered by Secretary of State John Kerry on the verge of breakdown.
The applications were signed by President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority on Tuesday evening as part of a move to gain the benefits of statehood outside the negotiations process.
They were delivered on Wednesday morning to Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator in the region, and in cases where relevant, to representatives of Switzerland and the Netherlands, according to Palestinian officials.
More: Palestinians Defy U.S. and Israel, Leaving Peace Talks in Peril