UN Draft Resolution Demands End of Israeli Occupation of Palestine by November 2016

A Palestinian-Arab United Nations draft resolution has identified November 2016 as the deadline to be demanded for complete Israeli withdrawal of the occupied Palestinian territories.

The resolution was discussed by Arab officials and there may be amendments before it is finalised and put to a vote at the UN Security Council.

The text of the bill states that an Israeli withdrawal must happen "as rapidly as possible and to be fully completed within a specified timeframe, not to exceed November 2016, and the achievement of the independence and sovereignty of the State of Palestine and the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people."

The draft resolution requests "all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949."

It also "demands an end to all Israeli military operations, reprisals, forced displacement of civilians, and all acts of violence and hostilities".

The resolution is not certain to be put to the UN Security Council if the Arab group who drafted the bill believe that there is a strong chance it will be vetoed, as the United States has done with previous resolutions.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has warned that he will reevaluate its security ties with Israel if the resolution to create an independent Palestinian state is blocked.

"There is a relationship with Israel, and we will reevaluate everything," he said in a press briefing in Ramallah.

He added that once the resolution is passed, borders are agreed on and the timetable for an Israeli withdrawal is set, peace negotiations with Israel can be re-entered.

"As soon as we get that, we are willing to return to the negotiating table."

The new timetable date comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US President Barack Obama at the White House to discuss regional issues such as Isis (now known as the Islamic State) and the nuclear threat from Iran.