BRUSSELS – The European Union and the United States have poured cold water on a Palestinian request have the UN recognize their independent state in the West Bank and Gaza. "I don't think we are there yet," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday, November 17.
"I would hope that we would be in a position to recognize a Palestinian state but there has to be one first.
"So I think it is somewhat premature."
The Palestinian Authority said it plans to ask the UN Security Council to recognize an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders and with Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) as its capital.
Israel warned the Palestinians against the move and threatened to annex more of the occupied West Bank.
Sweden's top diplomat recognized that the Palestinian initiative was the result of years of stalled peace talks.
"I wouldn't call it desperation…But it is clearly an act borne by a very difficult situation where they don't see any road ahead," he said.
"I can understand that."
Peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel have been frozen since the election of hawkish Benjamin Netanyahu as new prime minister of Israel.
Bildt still reiterated the support of the 27-nation bloc to the Palestinian people.
"We are discussing other steps in order to demonstrate our support for the Palestinian aspirations more clearly than we have done so far, and clearly there is a need for that."
Waste of Time
The US, Israel closest ally, was also quick to voice its opposition to any recognition of a Palestinian state.
"It is our strong belief and conviction that the best means to achieve the common goal of a contiguous and viable Palestine is through negotiations between the parties," the State Department said in a statement.
The proposal was also dismissed by US officials visiting Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem).
"It would be D.O.A. -- dead on arrival," said Democratic Senator Ted Kaufman.
"It's a waste of time."
Obama has set the Middle East peace as a top priority since his inauguration in January.
His Middle East envoy Mitchell has been shuttling between Israel and the Palestinian lands to restart direct talks between the two sides.
Obama hosted last September a summit between Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in New York to help revive the talks.
However, his efforts have been fruitless.
Hawkish Netanyahu has snubbed American, European and Palestinian calls to freeze the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank to restart the talks.
Source: IslamOnline
"I would hope that we would be in a position to recognize a Palestinian state but there has to be one first.
"So I think it is somewhat premature."
The Palestinian Authority said it plans to ask the UN Security Council to recognize an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders and with Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) as its capital.
Israel warned the Palestinians against the move and threatened to annex more of the occupied West Bank.
Sweden's top diplomat recognized that the Palestinian initiative was the result of years of stalled peace talks.
"I wouldn't call it desperation…But it is clearly an act borne by a very difficult situation where they don't see any road ahead," he said.
"I can understand that."
Peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel have been frozen since the election of hawkish Benjamin Netanyahu as new prime minister of Israel.
Bildt still reiterated the support of the 27-nation bloc to the Palestinian people.
"We are discussing other steps in order to demonstrate our support for the Palestinian aspirations more clearly than we have done so far, and clearly there is a need for that."
Waste of Time
The US, Israel closest ally, was also quick to voice its opposition to any recognition of a Palestinian state.
"It is our strong belief and conviction that the best means to achieve the common goal of a contiguous and viable Palestine is through negotiations between the parties," the State Department said in a statement.
The proposal was also dismissed by US officials visiting Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem).
"It would be D.O.A. -- dead on arrival," said Democratic Senator Ted Kaufman.
"It's a waste of time."
Obama has set the Middle East peace as a top priority since his inauguration in January.
His Middle East envoy Mitchell has been shuttling between Israel and the Palestinian lands to restart direct talks between the two sides.
Obama hosted last September a summit between Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in New York to help revive the talks.
However, his efforts have been fruitless.
Hawkish Netanyahu has snubbed American, European and Palestinian calls to freeze the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank to restart the talks.
Source: IslamOnline
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