Report: PA mulling unilateral declaration of statehood

[Violet_Crumble]

The Palestinian Authority is considering cutting off its diplomatic contacts with Israel and unilaterally declaring statehood, the Arabic-language a-Sharq al-Awset daily reported on Friday.

"In light of the crisis we have encountered in talks with Israel, the Authority is testing a number of options," one Palestinian official told the daily. According to the report, the Palestinian Authority is also re-evaluating how to proceed with consolidating its security services.

Salah Rafat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) council told the daily that "The Palestinian leadership will be able to make a clear and serious decision regarding the peace process," following trilateral talks in Washington next week.


U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday there was still time to reach a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians by the end of 2008.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1005544.html

[rucky]

1. I thought Pennsylvania was going to break from the union.

[Glorfindel]

2. Why shouldn't they? It worked for Kosovo

Nothing else seems to be doing any good. :shrug:

[BioDan]

3. Good!

I think that this is best for both sides. Let the Palestinians declare statehood, with all the rights and responsibilities inherent. If Israel can respect the PA's sovereignty and the PA can keep militants under control, then they come come back to the table to talk about issues such as land transfer.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LeftishBrit]

7. I'm a bit confused; what has this to do with Palestinian statehood?

Did you mean to post it on another thread?

[Phx_Dem]

8. The poster is a bot I think. nt

[azurnoir]

10. the link is a 404 n/t

[LeftishBrit]

5. They should have done this long ago IMO.

[Phx_Dem]

9. Yeah, like in 1948. nt

[Violet_Crumble]

11. I think they should have, but it'd achieve nothing seeing Israel was opposed to it n/t

[azurnoir]

12. Do you think Israel would "approve" now?

I do not, not if done unilaterally without official approval from Israel, in fact I see it being called a "rogue state" and this time the IDF is already in place.

[Violet_Crumble]

13. Israel would definately oppose it, as would the US n/t

[azurnoir]

6. Sounds like a possibility

however there are problems: the settlers, the ever present IDF who will in this event protect the settlers no matter what they do, as long as they do it to Palestinians, and not last or least the fact that when it comes to funds last I heard Israel is still holding the PA's "ATM" card so to speak.