JERUSALEM (WJC)–Senior Palestinian officials have announced that they would seek a UN Security Council resolution recognizing an independent Palestinian state. Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, told Israeli radio that Palestinians were “fed up with your time-wasting”. He did not give a time frame for the resolution, but said that the state would be along the 1967 Armistice lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Erekat told ‘Reuters’: “When we are ready, we will go.”
The Palestinian Liberation Organization already declared independence unilaterally on 15 November 1988. The declaration was recognized by dozens of countries, but never implemented on the ground. Instead, the Oslo Accords in the 1990s brought about the establishment of the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was no alternative to negotiations to secure peace and that any unilateral moves by the Palestinians would unravel past agreements. “There is no substitute for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and any unilateral path will only unravel the framework of agreements between us and will only bring unilateral steps from Israel’s side,” Netanyahu said in a speech on the Middle East peace process.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is heading to the Middle East this week, hoping to dissuade Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas from abandoning the peace process and convince Israel to engage in it. Kouchner will visit Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday. French officials said Kouchner would not be bringing any new proposals for breaking the impasse between Israel and the Palestinians. The foreign minister last week said it was crucial for Abbas to reverse his decision to not seek re-election in January. “I will press Mahmud Abbas to obstinately continue his work for peace,” Kouchner said.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress