says the headline in today's Haaretz
Israeli Foreign Minister is meeting with Javier Solana and Tony Blair
Lieberman told visiting UN envoy Tony Blair and European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana that such unilateral initiatives did not contribute to the creation of positive dialogue and vowed that Israel would respond.
End the occupation, despite the occupation
We have decided to be proactive, to expedite the end of the occupation by working very hard to build positive facts on the ground, consistent with having our state emerge as a fact that cannot be ignored," Fayyad told the Times of London. "This is our agenda, and we want to pursue it doggedly."
According to Fayyad, the idea would be to "end the occupation, despite the occupation."
The Palestinians did issue a declaration of independence, in 1988. In Algeirs. LArgely written by Mahmoud Darwish, the Poet. Some excerpts:
Peaceful Coexistence Between States
It further announces itself to be a peace-loving State, in adherence to the principles of peaceful co-existence. It will join with all states and peoples in order to assure a permanent peace based upon justice and the respect of rights so that humanity's potential for well-being may be assured, an earnest competition for excellence may be maintained, and in which confidence in the future will eliminate fear for those who are just and for whom justice is the only recourse.
Renouncing Use of Force, Violence and Terrorism
The State of Palestine herewith declares that it believes in the settlement of regional and international disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with the U.N. Charter and resolutions. With prejudice to its natural right to defend its territorial integrity and independence, it therefore rejects the threat or use of force, violence and terrorism against its territorial integrity or political independence, as it also rejects their use against territorial integrity of other states.
What Is the Palestinian Declaration of Independence of 1988?
"with prejudice" noteworthy.
The UN actually adopted a resolution in support of the declaration. The US and Israel were the only members who voted against it.
21 years later, what has changed, should the Palestinians simply declare themselves a state?