Palestinians may ask UN to support declaration of independence (Roundup)

Nov 15, 2009, 12:30 GMT

   Tel Aviv - Palestinians are considering appealing to the United Nations Security Council to support a unilateral declaration of independence in the territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War, a senior Palestinian officials said Sunday.

   Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat told Israel Army Radio that the appeal, if made, would be the result of Israeli 'foot dragging.'

   'We are fed up ... We do not believe that you really want a two-state solution,' he told the radio.

   'Israel continues with the occupation and is not interested in returning to the negotiating table. It continues upholding the settlements and building in the (occupied) territories,' he said.

   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for negotiations to be renewed, but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is demanding that Israel first commit to a complete halt in settlement construction.

   Netanyahu has said that while Israel will construct no new settlements, it reserves the right to build in existing ones, to accommodate population expansion, 'so-called natural growth.'

   Erekat did not say when the Palestinians would make their appeal to the UN.

   Another senior Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub, told Israel Radio Sunday afternoon that while a unilateral declaration might not be a 'practical solution' pushing the Palestinians into a corner might force them to take such a step.

   Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority were suspended one year ago as Israel began an election campaign. They have not been renewed since Netanyahu took office at the end of March.

Meanwhile Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to travel to Egpyt this week, for a meeting with Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak.

According to Abbas aide Nemr Hammad, quoted in the Egyptian daily al Gomhuria, the visit is set for Wednesday, and will focus on the splits in the Palestinian camp between Hamas and Fatah, which Cairo has attempted to mediate.