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Palestinian Central Council Decides to Declare State on September 13
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council approved on Monday the plan to declare an independent state on September 13 this year.
"As the end of the interim period approaches, the PLO Central Council has asked the PLO Executive Committee to take the proper procedures to declare the Palestinian independent state...with Jerusalem as its capital within this period," Palestinian National Council Chairman Selim Zanoun said after the Central Council meeting.
The 129-member PLO Central Council, on its second day of meetings in the Gaza Strip, supported Arafat's plan to declare a state in the West Bank and Gaza even if a final peace could not be reached with Israel, Zanoun read from a council statement.
The Palestinians and Israelis are trying to meet a September 13 deadline for final peace that would resolve the most sensitive issues in their conflict, including borders, the status of Jerusalem, Jewish settlements and Palestinian refugees. But Israel opposes any unilateral declaration of the Palestinian state.
Refuting the Israeli threats to retaliate if the Palestinian state is declared unilaterally, Zanoun said on Sunday the Oslo Agreement does not require consultation with Israel over this topic, but the Palestinian people are always eager to verify the state with Israel's approval.
However, if Israel insists on its procrastination, the Palestinians have to embody the state, he noted, adding, "We will seek international legitimacy for preserving our security and protecting us from any Israeli aggressions."
The latest report from Washington said that the United States on Monday reiterated its opposition to a unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinians.
"Both parties know that we oppose unilateral actions by either side, including a unilateral declaration of statehood," a State Department official said.
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