09/09/2012 19:29–Facing widespread criticism over his failure to solve the economic crisis, PA President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday asked Israel to review the 1994 Paris Protocol.

Hussein Sheikh, the head of civilian affairs in the Palestinian Authority, announced that Abbas has asked him to file an official request with Israel to review the Paris Protocol to determine whether it can be changed.

The Paris Protocol is the framework establishing interim- period economic relations between Israel and the PA.

According to the agreement, Palestinian trade with other countries is handled through Israeli sea and air ports or border crossings with Jordan and Egypt.

Over the past week, Abbas has come under pressure from many Palestinians to cancel the Paris Protocol under the pretext that it imposes severe restrictions on the development of the Palestinian economy.

Sheikh said that he filed an urgent request with the Israeli authorities to review the economic agreement. He said that if Israel accepts the request, the PA would form a special committee to study the required changes.

Hassan Khreisheh, an independent legislator, said that changing the Paris Protocol has become a popular demand that the PA leadership can no longer ignore.

The PA’s request came as Palestinians continued to stage protests in various parts of the West Bank against the high cost of living.

Demonstrations took place in Nablus and Ramallah Sunday, where Palestinians chanted slogans against Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Abbas and called for their resignation.

The protesters blocked main roads in the two cities and vowed to continue demonstrating until the two PA leaders resigned.

Until now, protesters had only demanded the resignation of Fayyad…Read More>>

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