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PA negotiator Saeb Erekat.
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Last update - 23:42 15/11/2009
Palestinian PM: Declaration of statehood just a formality
By Amira Hass, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Middle East peace process 

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Sunday that the declaration of a Palestinian state would be a mere formality once the institutions of a Palestinian state are created.

Speaking at a press conference in Ramallah organized by the Saban Forum,
Fayyad said it is important to create institutions that are functioning,
c
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ommitted to the Palestinian people and free of corruption.

Palestinian officials have they are preparing to ask the United Nations to endorse an independent state without Israel's consent because they are losing hope they can achieve their aspirations through peace talks. The announcement drew a harsh rebuke from Israeli officials.

Fayyad did not comment on the independence plan.

Fayyad spoke at a news conference with U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, who
praised Fayyad's efforts to develop the economy.

"I know some people are concerned that this is unilateral," Fayyad said, referring to his development plan. "But it seems to me that it is unilateral in a healthy sense of self-development."

Fayyad said building national institutions is an important step in preparation for the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.

He added thatsaid it was the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority to lay the groundwork for statehood, while it is up to the Palestine Liberation Organization to actually declare a state when the conditions are right.

Fayyad said his government is dedicated now more than ever to providing
resources to West Bank areas negatively affected by settlements and the
separation fence.

"Our people are continuing to demonstrate against everything that is illegal under international law, including the separation fence," he said.

The press conference was held at the end of a discussion Fayyad held with 80 guests as part of the Saban Forum, organized by Israeli-American media tycoon Haim Saban. Some 40 guests arrived in Ramallah from the United States, including three U.S. senators and five congressmen. Forty Israelis were also in attendance, including Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer.

'We come as investors'

U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman said of the visiting members of Congress that
to a certain extent they arrived as investors, and are going to carry back to Washington their our own positive reports about how the money of the U.S. Congress has been spent.

Lieberman told the assembled reporters that the U.S. representatives were
impressed by the progress visible in Ramallah.

Howard Berman, a Democratic congressman from California, said the American visitors agree with U.S. President Barack Obama's comments in his Cairo speech, in which he said the U.S.-Israel bond is unbreakable. But he said that feeling in no way precludes the strong commitment to the idea of Palestinian statehood and to the end to the occupation.

In response to a question posed by Haaretz over his vision of Mideast peace, Lieberman said his objective is that there be two states, the Jewish state of Israel and a Palestinian state, and that in both those states, every citizen has equal rights, regardless of ethnic or religious background.


Erekat: Israel doesn't want two state solution

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said earlier Sunday that frustrated Palestinians had decided to turn to the United Nations Security Council after 18 years of on-again, off-again negotiations with Israel.

The Palestinians seek an independent state that includes the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem - areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.

"Now is our defining moment. We went into this peace process in order to achieve a two-state solution," he said. "The endgame is to tell the Israelis that now the international community has recognized the two-state solution on the '67 borders."

U.S. efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are deadlocked.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the Palestinians to
negotiate with him, but they refuse, saying Israel must first stop building settlements on lands they claim. Netanyahu refuses to endorse the 1967 lines as the basis for an agreement.

Even if the UN endorses the Palestinian idea, it would be virtually impossible to implement while Israel remains in control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Nearly 500,000 Israelis live in these areas, in addition to thousands of Israeli troops stationed on bases.

The Palestinians already declared independence unilaterally on Nov. 15, 1988. The declaration was recognized by dozens of countries, but never implemented on the ground.

In the meantime, the Erekat declined to say when the Palestinians would make their appeal to the UN, signaling that the threat may be aimed in large part at putting pressure on Israel.

Barak: Agreement needed to stop unilateral declaration

Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned that Israel risks watching the
international community line up behind the Palestinians if negotiations are not restarted. Without an agreement, there is a possibility that support will increase for the Palestinians declaring a state unilaterally, he told the Cabinet on Sunday.

Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom, a member of Netanyahu's Likud
Party, warned the Palestinians against taking any one-sided action. "I think the Palestinians should know that unilateral actions will not lead to the results they hope for," he said.

Nimr Hamad, an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Palestinians have no intention of rushing to the Security Council.

"We are going to have to prepare for this well and to hold political and
diplomatic talks. We want the Security Council to discuss this only after
we've been given assurances," he told the Israeli daily Maariv. "There is no point in rushing just so that we collide with an American veto."

As one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, the U.S. wields veto power over any resolution. Israeli media predicted that the U.S., Israel's key ally, would veto the move.

Hamad said Abbas would travel to Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the plan with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

There was no immediate reaction from Security Council members. But Erekat said Russia, another permanent member of the Security Council, and unspecified European nations are on board with the Palestinian plan.

Complicating the matter is the status of the Gaza Strip. The territory is
currently ruled by Abbas' rivals, the Islamic militant Hamas group. Israel withdrew unilaterally from Gaza in 2005.

PA seeks to extend Abbas term

In the West Bank, meanwhile, the Palestinians announced plans to extend the term of Abbas after a recommendation to postpone presidential elections indefinitely.

Last week, Palestinian election officials postponed a planned Jan. 24
presidential election, saying Hamas' opposition made it impossible to hold the vote in Gaza. The decision cleared the way for Abbas, who had threatened to quit politics after the election, to remain in office.

Mohammed Dahlan, a top official in Abbas' Fatah Party, said Sunday that the PLO's central committee will meet next month to extend Abbas' term until elections can be held.

Related articles:
  • Erekat: Palestinians may have to abandon goal of independent state
  • PA negotiator: Israel to blame for stalled peace talks
  • Poll: Most Palestinians, Israelis want two-state solution
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    IN PICTURES / Did Prime Minster Netanyahu risk his life for a photo op?
      1.   Palestinians not willing to negotiate 10:46  |  Richard 15/11/09
      2.   Borders will be defined in negotiations 11:20  |  arik 15/11/09
      3.   Setting Aside Bibi I 11:21  |  Mark of Lewiston 15/11/09
      4.   Erekat 11:22  |  fredyr 15/11/09
      5.   #1 What a load of BS 11:29  |  Michael 15/11/09
      6.   PA Negotiater 11:30  |  A.Abrahams 15/11/09
      7.   To #1 11:32  |  Najeeb 15/11/09
      8.   Two State Solution 11:37  |  Noami 15/11/09
      9.   arik Res 242 was between STATES 12:02  |  CJ 15/11/09
      10.   Abrahams 12:04  |  arik 15/11/09
      11.   Najeeb There are NO 1967 borders between palestine and Israel 12:06  |  CJ 15/11/09
      12.   #5 michael in la la land makes comment 12:18  |  vhardman 15/11/09
      13.   EREQAT has to come clean on how many million Arabs they want 12:34  |  PETER SM 15/11/09
      14.   Erekat:" Israel doesn`t want two-state solution" 12:44  |  Esther 15/11/09
      15.   vhardman - Perpetuating propaganda again? 13:03  |  CJ 15/11/09
      16.   2 state error by everyone 13:07  |  DOV KORET 15/11/09
      17.   CJ, propaganda? Beg your pardon? 14:00  |  Joe Frazier 15/11/09
      18.   Erekat negotiator? 14:38  |  Daniel 15/11/09
      19.   Response to Najeeb 14:48  |  Daniel 15/11/09
      20.   Palestinians should embrace Israel and be... 15:06  |  Peter 15/11/09
      21.   The chances of a ?two-state solution?. 15:13  |  B. Gold 15/11/09
      22.   #15 the complete jerk rewrites history again 15:15  |  vhardman 15/11/09
      23.   CJ happy dreams II 15:38  |  arik 15/11/09
      24.   Joe Frazier - Strange, even Jewish folk were Palestinians in Pal 15:51  |  CJ 15/11/09
      25.   DOV KORET - Nothing you`ve said is true. 16:04  |  CJ 15/11/09
      26.   PETER SM - There are NO millions. It`s a fallacy promoting fear 16:16  |  CJ 15/11/09
      27.   vhardman - resorting to name calling is a sign of a loser 16:24  |  CJ 15/11/09
      28.   B. Gold - You have "guts" to talk about tolerance 16:35  |  Libertad 15/11/09
      29.   #1 Arik "Jews and Palestinians in one state... 16:45  |  Pierre S 15/11/09
      30.   pa negotiator erekat 16:49  |  matteo d`agostino,it 15/11/09
      31.   CJ,how many "few thousands"? 16:58  |  Hastaroth 15/11/09
      32.   take it to the security council it will be voted down 14:15  |  zionist forever 15/11/09
      33.   #12 Leftie Esther who is ashamed to be an Israeli Jew 17:04  |  Hastaroth 15/11/09
      34.   It is already a Bi-National state where roughly 50% 17:04  |  Lars Hansen 15/11/09
      35.   #28 Pierre in Oslo 17:06  |  Hastaroth 15/11/09
      36.   How will there be peace, possibility 1: US political will 17:09  |  Ramzi Jaber 15/11/09
      37.   How will there be peace, possibility 2: Change military balance 17:10  |  Ramzi Jaber 15/11/09
      38.   How will there be peace, possibility 3: Demographic changes 17:11  |  Ramzi Jaber 15/11/09
      39.   How will there be peace, possibility 4: The GREAT MARCH FOR PEACE 17:11  |  Ramzi Jaber 15/11/09
      40.   A reversible quote 17:22  |  David 15/11/09
      41.   #5 - Michael, you`re the one with BS 17:50  |  MichaelF 15/11/09
      42.   #11 - CJ 18:02  |  MichaelF 15/11/09
      43.   Joe Frazier, are you really that dense? 18:11  |  BBSNews 15/11/09
      44.   Hastaroth re CJ #26: that`s not the numbers the Pals claim, CJ - 18:16  |  ivo 15/11/09
      45.   VHardmanPaulHarris. Never you mind... 18:24  |  Maureen Ann 15/11/09
      46.   let them declare what they want... 18:32  |  Joey 15/11/09
      47.   CJ dreams. I ( Second try) 18:43  |  arik 15/11/09
      48.   What happens when some Settlers attack Palestinians? 18:44  |  Mark Lincoln 15/11/09
      49.   Have Omaba signed on to the Fayyad Plan? 18:44  |  Justine Effort 15/11/09
      50.   Unilateral is the mistake Sharon made 18:52  |  Mark Lincoln 15/11/09
      51.   Pierre# 23 18:52  |  arik 15/11/09
      52.   #Ramsi and the great March 18:57  |  arik 15/11/09
      53.   To Sylvan Shalom settlemetns are "unilateral actions"! 19:00  |  Aharon 15/11/09
      54.   The UN created Israel. It can create Palestine, too 19:11  |  Gray 15/11/09
      55.   What irony- the Palestinians are repeating what Israel did in `48 19:17  |  Dekel 15/11/09
      56.   Even more reason for UN to free West Bank than Kosovo 19:37  |  Michael 15/11/09
      57.   Salaam for President 2010! 20:06  |  Zach 15/11/09
      58.   re richard # 1. Palestinian negotiated for 19 years.Israel.... 20:14  |  kat 15/11/09
      59.   Hastaroth An estimate 20-25,000 20:16  |  CJ 15/11/09
      60.   Will not matter after the bombs fall 20:26  |  Derek 15/11/09
      61.   MichaelF Israel accepted re 181 20:26  |  CJ 15/11/09
      62.   Justine Effort #49: the PLO needs no `dust off` - 20:45  |  ivo 15/11/09
      63.   Gray The UN did not creat Israel 20:47  |  CJ 15/11/09
      64.   Israel wants more "concessions"?? 20:53  |  Andrew 15/11/09
      65.   34 21:15  |  zionist forever 15/11/09
      66.   ARAB FANTASIES 21:33  |  SIMPLE JEW 15/11/09
      67.   Statehood: two or one? 23:15  |  graczek 15/11/09
      68.   The Palis love their victimhood 23:47  |  Amira Kapo 15/11/09
      69.   A Man of Vision? 23:57  |  Hugh 15/11/09
      70.   Abrahams (#10) 00:06  |  Sally 16/11/09
      71.   The upside is Palestinians can call for equality- 00:19  |  Labhras 16/11/09
      72.   Ramzi Jaber 00:38  |  Robert 16/11/09
      73.   Ivo 00:44  |  Justine Effort 16/11/09
      74.   #19 Daniel 00:53  |  BDS 16/11/09
      75.   CJ NOWHERE have the Pals said the limit is" the few thousand"! 01:09  |  PETER SM 16/11/09
      76.   #1, Richard is 100% correct, sad others dont see it 01:09  |  David 16/11/09
      77.   #5, Michael, they have been on the table for 80 years 01:13  |  David 16/11/09
      78.   Statehood Trampled 01:35  |  Vladek 16/11/09
      79.   No reason for Palestinians not to declare a state 01:43  |  Jake 16/11/09
      80.   Pal_Arabs humane? 01:52  |  Michelle 16/11/09
      81.   CJ you ok? 01:59  |  Michelle 16/11/09
      82.   asymmetrically speaking 01:59  |  heinz 16/11/09
      83.   If you can dream it... 02:00  |  Bazmann 16/11/09
      84.   the wumb??? 02:10  |  Michelle 16/11/09
      85.   PRESUMABLY they will then not demand a road through Israel 02:27  |  PETER SM 16/11/09
      86.   Ramsi`s March 02:54  |  Gianni 16/11/09
      87.   Michael- UK 03:00  |  Gianni 16/11/09
      88.   CJ wizard from the land of OZ 03:17  |  John Spear 16/11/09
      89.   Either he knows something unlikely 05:19  |  Mark Lincoln 16/11/09
      90.   CJ Pal leaders have never publicly accepted 25000 05:36  |  PETER SM 16/11/09
      91.   Israel needs to beat them to the punch... 05:43  |  ben 16/11/09
      92.   Liberating Palestine 05:45  |  maoriboy 16/11/09
      93.   Andrew 64 06:07  |  Jasper 16/11/09
      94.   CJ - Explain why you continually refer to #181 06:21  |  *BEN JABO 16/11/09
      95.   zionist forever - HEY !! It`s `P`alestinians 06:29  |  CJ 16/11/09
      96.   It Looks And Sounds Like Progress To Me... 06:36  |  Yosemite 16/11/09
      97.   CJ #181 - Oh, the lines that Arabs ignored 06:43  |  *BEN JABO 16/11/09
      98.   What hope? 06:45  |  utagawa 16/11/09
      99.   How high will be Palestinian borders? 07:29  |  Meo 16/11/09
      100.   MAORIBOY Do Arab pogroms sound good to you.? 07:52  |  PETER SM 16/11/09
      101.   CJ where did you get the figure of 25000 as the R.O.R number 07:57  |  PETER SM 16/11/09
      102.   A moot argument as the Pals wont negotiate. 08:22  |  Josiah J. Ben David 16/11/09
      103.   the no state solution. 08:47  |  Jochai Rubinstein 16/11/09
      104.   #45 moaning ann never minds making a fool of herself 09:01  |  vhardman 16/11/09
      105.   #69 the complete jerk again perverts history 09:07  |  vhardman 16/11/09
      106.   MAORIBOY Do Arab pogroms sound good to you.? 09:21  |  PETER SM 16/11/09
      107.   The Palestinian state thus far is only a formality 09:42  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 16/11/09
      108.   BEN JABO - The Arabs didn`t ignore the 181 lines. 10:32  |  CJ 16/11/09
      109.   utagawa The UN has already made a commitment to protect Israel 10:35  |  CJ 16/11/09
      110.   PETER SM Simple maths. Ever heard of it? 10:40  |  CJ 16/11/09
      111.   vhardman - name calling belittles you...Why do you do it? 10:45  |  CJ 16/11/09
      112.   Chaim Ben Kahan UH? 10:49  |  CJ 16/11/09
      113.   actions need to be bilateral 12:45  |  soandso 16/11/09
      114.   Najeeb just give up you lost and so did the pals. 13:47  |  Petra 16/11/09
      115.   I believe 14:07  |  Sinus Meridiani 16/11/09
      116.   #109 C.J. (formerly Johnboy) 17:46  |  *BEN JABO 16/11/09
      117.   CJ (Johnboy in previous life) 18:39  |  *BEN JABO 16/11/09
      118.   # 100 PETER SM 05:55  |  maoriboy 17/11/09
      119.   # 106 PETER SM do Israeli massacres sound good to you? 06:48  |  maoriboy 17/11/09
      120.   Implementing a two state solution 02:28  |  bronxite10 19/11/09
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