Saeb Erekat
Photo: AFP
Erekat: PA may declare state via UN
Chief Palestinian negotiator: PA seeking global support for declaring statehood
Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat says the Palestinian Authority is making an effort to elicit international support for declaring statehood, Al-Ayyam newspaper reported Saturday.
According to Erekat, the PA intends to promote this issue in order to bring it for a vote at the UN Security Council. The Palestinians are interested in declaring a state in line with the 1967 borders, he said.
"The idea is clear and understandable," he said, adding that "now we mobilize" and criticizing Israel's policies in the West Bank which he said prompted the latest Palestinian effort.
The move would send a message that "settlements and other unilateral actions are null and void and do not establish rights or territory," Erekat said, noting that he spoke about the Palestinian initiative with both American and European officials.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas was said to have discussed the idea with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. According to Erekat, the Palestinian leader will aim to now elicit the support of South American nations while also working vis-à-vis Europe.
The idea was first proposed by EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, Erekat said.
