Salam Fayyad: Ready for state
Photo: AP
Streets of Ramallah
Photo: Elior Levy
PA seeks US support for statehood
Palestinian leaders focus on garnering Washington's support ahead of unilateral declaration of independence; push for firm US stance on borders, settlements
While Palestinian Authority is taking major steps
to prepare for its impending declaration of an independent state, bitterness is evident among West Bank leaders at the US' reluctance to take a strong stance on the issue.
Al-Maliki rejected the claim that a unilateral declaration of independence will cause clashes between settlers and Palestinians.
The winds of change were not only evident in international attitudes, but also on the Palestinian streets. West Bank Palestinians say that under Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Abbas, the security situation has improved and corruption has been eliminated. But at the same time, some citizens are skeptic about the impending declaration.
The recent reports by the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund all indicate that the PA has established the necessary governmental institutions, and is ready to function independently.
"Most of the world's nations are siding with the Palestinian leadership in support of the declaration that, as President Mahmoud Abbas announced, will be made not later than next September," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki said.
Backing
PA to ask Western nations for funds to support three-year plan for development of new state's economy, rebuilding of West Bank land 'isolated, damaged by occupation'. 'We are in home stretch to freedom,' PM Fayyad says
But alongside the satisfaction at the international successes that the PA has achieved over the past two weeks, Palestinian leaders are angry at the Quartet's decision to cancel a meeting that aimed restart stalled Israeli-Palestinian talks due to pressure from the US.
'1967 borders, J'lem as capital'
Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina released a statement on Wednesday, calling on the US to take a clear stance on the borders of the future state."US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's statement that President Barack Obama is expected to announce his policy regarding the Middle East must be accompanied by a clear position that the Palestinian state will be within the 1967 borders, and that its capital will be Jerusalem," the statement read.
Abu Rudeina also demanded the US to take a firm stance against Israeli settlements.
"How can a state be established with barriers?" a resident of the Palestinian town of Beitunia said. "It's easier for me to reach Canada than Jerusalem these days. It's absurd."
"Everyone is talking about September," one Ramallah resident said. "But only God knows if it will happen next September or in September of 2015. We have the most important tool: Patience."
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