Israel fears growing Palestine support

Tue Dec 7, 2010

Israel has criticized the recent recognition of a Palestinian state by several South American nations, saying the move is against the spirit of the Mideast talks.

“Recognition of a Palestinian state is a violation of the interim agreement signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 1995, which established that the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip will be discussed and solved through negotiations,” the Jerusalem Post quoted Israel's foreign ministry as saying in a statement late Monday.

The statement, which said that recognition of a Palestinian state also contradicted the road map, called it a regrettable move that would not help change the situation between Israel and the Palestinians.

“All attempts to bypass negotiations and to unilaterally determine issues in dispute will only harm the trust of the sides and their commitment to agreed frameworks for negotiations,” the statement read.

Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have all sent letters to acting PA Chief Mahmoud Abbas during the past week, declaring the recognition of a free and independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

The letters come amid US efforts to devise an economic-military package to 'bribe' Israel to renew a partial settlement freeze, which expired on September 26.

Tel Aviv's refusal to extend the 10-month moratorium enraged the PA negotiators who walked out of the US-sponsored direct talks launched three weeks earlier in Washington.

Israel has called on the countries which have recognized a Palestinian State to instead force Ramallah into returning to the negotiating table, what Palestinians fear could cost them more concessions in favor of Israel given Washington's influence on the PA and the talks.

A United Nations resolution demands the return of Palestinian territories which were occupied by Tel Aviv during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Over 100 countries have endorsed the Palestinians' 1988 unilateral declaration of independent statehood.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/154283.html.