Most of the world’s nations will announce recognition of a Palestinian state by September 2011, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki said on Sunday.
“The majority of the international community will recognise an independent Palestinian state” by September, Malki told a group of Palestinian journalists in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Malki said the European Union had already expressed its intention to recognise a Palestinian state by September, which would mark one year since the restart of direct peace talks that have stalled over continued Israeli settlement construction.
“The Spanish foreign minister (Trinidad Jimenez) told me that the European Union will recognise a Palestinian state at the beginning of September,” Malki said, without specifying when the conversation occurred.
“And if the European Union doesn’t take this decision then Spain will be the first European country to announce its recognition of the Palestinian state, and we’re optimistic,” he added.
Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians began September 2 in Washington, ending nearly two years without direct negotiations.
But the talks ground to a halt just weeks later, with the expiry of an Israeli ban on settlement building in the West Bank.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas demanded a new ban, saying he would not negotiate while Israel builds on land the Palestinians want for their future state.
But US efforts to secure a new freeze failed, with Israel declining to impose any new restrictions on Jewish construction in the West Bank or east Jerusalem.
Washington has called on both sides to engage in indirect, US-mediated talks, and Palestinian and Israeli negotiators were expected in the United States this week.
But Abbas has insisted there will be no real negotiations.
In recent weeks, a string of Latin American nations have announced their recognition of an independent Palestinian state on the borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East war.
The Palestinian leadership has touted the new recognitions from countries including Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Other nations, including Paraguay and Uruguay are reportedly planning to recognise the state soon.
Malki said the Palestinian leadership was working to convince Mexico and several Latin and Central American nations to recognise the Palestinian state.
“Until September, we will work to secure as much recognition as we can,” he said, adding increased international recognition would strengthen the Palestinian position in new talks or if it sought UN recognition for statehood.
Malki also addressed plans by the Palestinian Authority to seek a United Nations Security Council resolution on Israeli settlement construction, saying Palestinian diplomats were seeking US support for a final text.
“We want a unanimous decision to be issued and we don’t want a US veto to be used against this resolution,” he said.
“The Palestinian delegation has the support of all the members except the American delegation,” he added.
The only comment that comes to mind is God will bless those who bless Israel and as we know the same is not true for those who are against Israel. The best thing about this is, it really lets us know as humans we are not going to make this work and thus GOD is in control and this is the way it should be. We can only stand on God’s word and do as he has asked. Support Israel.
What this will do, if it happens, is lead the world to the final war and the coming of Gog Magog. Perhaps these nations shall come to try to force this State upon Israel?
Well the positive side of that story is that we can read the ending of that story as written by the prophet Zechariah 12:9 as God will destroy all of these nations who come against Judah at Jerusalem.
In the book of Joel we are given this admonition. The world, The EU, Palestinian’s and all else would do well to understand the following: “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the vally of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, who they have scattered among the nations, and PARTED MY LAND.” Joel 3:2
His judgment upon the nations is at hand!
I agree with both Jim and Larry, the nations need to wake-up and smell the evil that is riseing his ugly head, and open their eyes and look around them andsee what is really happening, I pray for the Peace of JERUSALEM and my brothers and sisters over there
I completely agree! God is the only person in control, and the Muslims and Russians will soon learn this in real time. The coming attack on Israel will be thwarted by God himself, so stand by to stand by.
It’s scary, but we believers win in the end. We must, therefore, hold fast with our faith firmly in God. We must also be lights of guidance to our children, families and friends. We must win more lost sheep for him, take them away from Satan.
May the Lord hold you all close to his heart and bless you abundantly. 🙂
God’s word about the Nation of Israel cannot be changed by man. With or without a new Palestinian Nation being formed, God cannot be challenged. I believe the call for the church to pray for the peace of Jerusalem is need now more than ever before. May God grant His people peace.
I do not believe all the comments above because they lack scriptural support.
Consider the reasons:
Yahweh ejected a group of people who were living in the land of Canaan due to abominable conducts and gave it to the descendants of Abraham- the ancient Israelite. Again, the nation of Israel was seriously warned to exalt righteousness and have the fear of Yahweh otherwise they would be ejected in the same manner. The question is this, did they live up to expectation? Did they not reject the Messiah and the Savior of the world? The Scripture is clear that the nation of Israel was rejected as God’s nation of people at the end of 70 weeks of Daniel 9:24. Those who believe that Yahweh is still with Israel have not read Matthew 23:37-39. What awaits Israel now and the world is total destruction. If you doubt it, let us wait. God. AD 33 was the end of Israel. The end of the world is imminent. We should no longer waste time praying for the survival of Israel because those prayers will have no effect in the coming global destruction.
I don’t want Israel to be a palestinian state cause it’s not! I wish they could move to mecca and let that be their state.Why does everybody always pounce on little Israel? The palestinians are persecuted, alot because they ask for it.If they would get rid of their leaders hamas and the rest of those hoodlums, they would be a little more peaceful.Everybody makes mistakes, like we did with our president.
The Zionist lobby has corrupted our Churches. Palestinian Christians are being oppressed by a people who declared the Messiah a “criminal “. Read your Bible. The Jews were Chosen to spread the “word”. They did not.