BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority will escalate its diplomatic and non-violent struggle in 2013 but will not confront Israel militarily, senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath said Thursday.

"The struggle will evolve and take new forms of boycott of Israeli goods and civil disobedience," Shaath told Ma'an, adding that grassroots and international support would force Israel to abide by international norms in 2013.

Shaath said the PA did not seek a confrontation with the US and that he expected Washington to pressure Israel to stop building settlements and to propose new initiatives for negotiations.

The Fatah official said he hoped reconciliation with Hamas would be implemented in the new year.

Regarding the PA's financial crisis, Shaath said he expected Qatar and Saudi Arabia to assist the Ramallah-based government.