DHAKA: Palestine on Wednesday submitted applications to join international organizations and treaties.

The applications were handed over to the representatives of the UN, Switzerland and Holland by Palestine foreign minister Riad Malki, reports The Jerusalem Post.

The move came one day after Palestine president Mahmoud Abbas signed the application to join 15 international organizations and treaties.

Abbas signed letters of accession for the following treaties and conventions, Palestinian News Agency Maan reported:

Palestine foreign ministry said that the decision to apply was taken in response to Israel’s refusal to release the fourth and final group of Palestinian prisoners at the end of March.

Holding the Israeli government responsible for the current crisis in the peace talks, the ministry said that Palestinian membership in international bodies and treaties was a Palestinian right and that reflects the will of the international community.

The ministry said in a statement that Abbas’s move was aimed at salvaging the peace process and the negotiations with Israel.

PLO Secretary-General Yasser Abed Rabbo said that the decision to join the 15 international organizations and treaties was a first step toward joining all United Nations agencies.

Abed Rabbo told reporters in Ramallah that the Palestine leadership would not make concessions on Palestinians’ political and national rights.

‘Israeli blackmail won’t make us backtrack,’ he said.

BDST: 2055 HRS, APR 02, 2014