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Both France and England may recognize Palestinian state
The French and British Prime Ministers both gave interviews Thursday morning that indicated their willingness to recognize a Palestinian state if peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians result in failure. The statements came in the midst of a diplomatic visit to both countries by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
British Prime Minister David Cameron told Netanyahu that unless Israel engages in a real and meaningful peace process with the Palestinians, Britain would consider backing the declaration of a Palestinian state that the Palestinian President plans to make at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Nicholas Sarkozy, the French Prime Minister, spoke to reporters with the French weekly L'Express in advance of a meeting with the Israeli leader. Sarkozy told the reporters that he hoped the peace process would resume over the summer, but added that, “If, conversely, the peace process remains stalled in September, France will take responsibility on the central question of recognizing a Palestinian state.”
Neither the British nor the French Prime Ministers publicly rejected the Palestinian unity government, as requested by Netanyahu, and Nicholas Sarkozy voiced his outright support for the unity deal made between rival Palestinian factions on Wednesday.
A number of other states, including Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Chile have recognized the Palestinian state, and have called on the United Nations to do the same. Britain and France have both been strong supporters of Israel, and their recognition of a Palestinian state could have serious implications for their relationships with the Israeli state.
Nicholas Sarkozy, the French Prime Minister, spoke to reporters with the French weekly L'Express in advance of a meeting with the Israeli leader. Sarkozy told the reporters that he hoped the peace process would resume over the summer, but added that, “If, conversely, the peace process remains stalled in September, France will take responsibility on the central question of recognizing a Palestinian state.”
Neither the British nor the French Prime Ministers publicly rejected the Palestinian unity government, as requested by Netanyahu, and Nicholas Sarkozy voiced his outright support for the unity deal made between rival Palestinian factions on Wednesday.
A number of other states, including Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Chile have recognized the Palestinian state, and have called on the United Nations to do the same. Britain and France have both been strong supporters of Israel, and their recognition of a Palestinian state could have serious implications for their relationships with the Israeli state.
For more information:
http://www.imemc.org/article/61180
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The US, Italy, Britain and France have refused to rule out negotiations with the unity Hamas-Fatah government despite intensive lobbying by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Representatives of the respective governments declined to reject the unity deal between Fatah and Hamas as requested by Netanyahu on his current trip to Britain and France. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton yesterday avoided giving any definite statement on the matter saying that the Obama administration “are going to be carefully assessing what this actually means, because there are a number of different potential meanings to it, both on paper and in practice”.
However Secretary Clinton reaffirmed the US administration's need for Hamas to renounce violence and recognise Israel as a Jewish state. Similarly France, Italy and Britain have refused to rule out negotiations but echoed Secretary Clinton’s statement that any new government needed to recognise the Jewish character of Israel.
The current trip by the Israeli PM was originally designed as a means of lobbying European allies against supporting a unilateral decleration of statehood by the PA in September. However Netanyahu has instead used it to encourage government leaders to reject the recent Hamas-Fatah reconciliation process.
Questioned as to his opinion of a potential recognition of a Palestinian state based on pre 1967 borders by the United Nations in September, Netanyahu replied “can there be an automatic majority in the UN? The answer is yes. They can say the earth is flat and pass it”.
Talks between Palestinian and Israel representatives broke down last September when Palestinian leaders withdrew due to a resumption of Israeli settlement activity in what would be a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders
Representatives of the respective governments declined to reject the unity deal between Fatah and Hamas as requested by Netanyahu on his current trip to Britain and France. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton yesterday avoided giving any definite statement on the matter saying that the Obama administration “are going to be carefully assessing what this actually means, because there are a number of different potential meanings to it, both on paper and in practice”.
However Secretary Clinton reaffirmed the US administration's need for Hamas to renounce violence and recognise Israel as a Jewish state. Similarly France, Italy and Britain have refused to rule out negotiations but echoed Secretary Clinton’s statement that any new government needed to recognise the Jewish character of Israel.
The current trip by the Israeli PM was originally designed as a means of lobbying European allies against supporting a unilateral decleration of statehood by the PA in September. However Netanyahu has instead used it to encourage government leaders to reject the recent Hamas-Fatah reconciliation process.
Questioned as to his opinion of a potential recognition of a Palestinian state based on pre 1967 borders by the United Nations in September, Netanyahu replied “can there be an automatic majority in the UN? The answer is yes. They can say the earth is flat and pass it”.
Talks between Palestinian and Israel representatives broke down last September when Palestinian leaders withdrew due to a resumption of Israeli settlement activity in what would be a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders
For more information:
http://www.imemc.org/article/61187
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