US says opposed to unilateral Palestinian state move
Updated: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
12:30GMT—7:30AM/EST
Washington, 17 November (WashingtonTV)—The United States said on Monday that it opposed a proposal by the Palestinians to have the United Nations recognize an independent Palestinian state.
Palestinian officials said that they will seek recognition because of the failure to restart peace talks with Israel.
Israel has warned that any unilateral action could unravel past agreements.
“We support the creation of a Palestinian state that is contiguous and viable. But we think that the best way to achieve that is through negotiations by the two parties,” said US State Department spokesperson, Ian Kelly.
Kelly said that the U.S. was putting all of its efforts towards having the two parties resume peace talks.
The Palestinians have demanded that all Jewish settlement construction be halted before they will again attend peace talks.
Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, said on Tuesday that such a unilateral move by the Palestinians was “premature”.
“I don’t think we are there yet,” he told reporters when asked if the EU could recognize an independent Palestinian state, reports Reuters.
Sources: US State Department website, Reuters
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