Arab states reiterate support for Palestinian statehood

Author: Nehal El-Sherif

   Cairo (dpa) - Arab states fully support a planned Palestinian bid before the United Nations for recognition as an independent state, the head of the Arab League said on Tuesday.

   "We are waiting for the Palestinian leadership's decision whether they will address the General Assembly or the (UN) Security Council," Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi said, following a ministerial meeting of the 22-member organization.

Erdogan addressing the Arab League in Cairo

   The Arab League meeting precedes the forthcoming session at the United Nations, where Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to request UN recognition for an independent state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

   Al-Arabi said that, though the General Assembly cannot announce the Palestinian state as a member without the council's recommendation, it can declare Palestine as a non-permanent member.

   "This means that talks with Israel will be between two countries discussing main issues, rather than negotiating the existence of the Palestinian state," Al-Arabi told reporters, after a closed session for the Arab foreign ministers in Cairo.

   "It also means the Palestinian territories will be recognized as an occupied land, rather than disputed areas," he added.

   The United States has said it will oppose the Palestinian proposal in the security council.

   Yet, the Palestinians will likely try to push for a vote in the General Assembly, where the US does not wield as much control.

   Addressing the foreign ministers earlier Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his support for Palestinian statehood.

   "Palestinians must announce their independent state. This is not a choice, it's a necessity," said Erdogan, who was scheduled to meet Abbas later on Tuesday.

   "We should be one hand with the Palestinians. The Palestinian flag must be raised at the United Nations," he told the meeting.

   "Let's fly the Palestinian flag to be a symbol of justice and peace in the Middle East."

   Erdogan reiterated his criticism of Israel, saying it continued taking "irresponsible steps that undermine its own legitimacy."

   Turkey downgraded its diplomatic relations with Israel and froze military and trade ties over last year's killing of nine Turkish activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid ship.

   The premier said that Israel has isolated itself and must "pay the price" after refusing to apologize for the raid on the flotilla.

   The head of the Al-Azhar institution, Ahmed al-Tayeb, also expressed his support for the Palestinian bid, and called on all Arab countries to pressure the United States not to vote against the Palestinian demand.

   Al-Tayeb told reporters after his meeting with President Abbas in Cairo that it was a "just demand that reflects the right of the Palestinian people to live in safety and peace with its neighbours."

   Abbas said last week that he intends to submit the Palestinian's application for UN membership once he arrives in New York on September 19 for the General Assembly session.

   He has said he is taking this path because of the lack of any discernible peace talks with Israel, which presently occupies the land that would be the independent state. That has left the Palestinians no option but to try and achieve their aims through other routes.

   Israel opposes the Palestinian UN bid, saying a Palestinian state can only come into being as the result of negotiations.

   Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke off in September last year, after Israel refused Palestinian demands to extend a partial, limited 10-month freeze on construction at its West Bank settlements.

   Palestinians have insisted that no new talks can take place until a new freeze is implemented, including the Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem.