Israel Matzav

US discouraging unilateral 'statehood' by 'Palestinians'

The US State Department called a possible unilateral declaration of 'statehood' by the 'Palestinians' 'not helpful.'

"We remain convinced that ultimately the only way that we're going to get a comprehensive peace is through direct negotiations, and anything that might affect those direct negotiations we feel is not helpful and not constructive," US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

Toner had been asked about press reports that the Palestinian leadership might go the UN to seek recognition of a Palestinian state, including one report in which Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the US had agreed to support the Palestinians in that effort if direct talks didn't bear fruit.

"Our goal remains getting both sides back into direct negotiations," Toner said. "Anything that might affect getting both parties back into direct negotiations we would discourage."

I would not count on this being the last word on a 'Palestinian' appeal to the Security Council.

Labels: Palestinian Authority, unilateral declaration of statehood, United Nations Security Council, US State Department

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:57 AM