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"We have reached a decision... to go to the UN Security Council to ask for recognition of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) as its capital and with June 1967 borders," Erakat said. |
West Bank – Frustrated with the deadlocked peace talks with Israel, the Palestinians are planning to seek recognition from the United Nations for their independent state.
"We have reached a decision... to go to the UN Security Council to ask for recognition of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) as its capital and with June 1967 borders," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Sunday, November 15.
"We're going to seek support from EU countries and Russia and other countries."
Palestinians have been growing frustrated with US failure to oblige Israel to halt settlement buildings to help restart peace talks.
"We don't believe that you really want a two-state solution," Erakat told Israeli Army radio.
"We're fed up with your time-wasting.”
The Israeli government of hawkish premier Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US calls to freeze settlement building to kickstart the moribund peace talks with the Palestinians.
"Israel is continuing the occupation and is not prepared to return to the negotiating table,” said Erakat.
“It is maintaining the settlements and continuing to build in the territories; this situation cannot continue. We must reach a two-state solution."
But Nimr Hamad, an adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Palestinians would not rush to the Security Council for statehood.
"We are going to have to prepare for this well and to hold political and diplomatic talks,” he told the Israeli daily Maariv.
“We want the Security Council to discuss this only after we've been given assurances.
"There is no point in rushing just so that we collide with an American veto."
Israeli media predicted that the US, Israel’s chief ally, would veto the Palestinian move.
Israel Threatens
But the Israeli government was quick to warn the Palestinians against any unilateral declaration of their state.
"I think the Palestinians need to know that unilateral moves will not yield the results they hope for,” Vice Premier Silvan Shalom said, reported Yediot Aharonot.
“Every action will receive a appropriate Israeli response."
Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau threatened to seize parts of the West Bank that contain major Jewish settlement blocs if the Palestinians declare their state.
"If they go for a unilateral declaration it should be followed by the extension of our control over C areas," he said.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak also threatened a harsh action over the move.
"Experience proves that agreed upon borders are preferable to a unilateral move,” he said.
“Anyone who makes a unilateral move is running the risk of losing vital components, as well as other risks."
Barak, however, warned that without a peace deal, Israel will face a rise in international support for either unilateral Palestinian state or a bi-national state.
“There is a chance that support of the Palestinian unilateral declaration may grow, and there will be a rising demand for the establishment of a bi-national state."
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