Senior PA (Palestinian Authority) negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat was quoted in the PA’s  el-Ayam newspaper as calling upon the United Nations Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state on the pre-June 1967 borders, meaning to include areas of the capital liberated in the Six Day War. Such areas include but are not limited to eastern Jerusalem, Ramat Eshkol and areas of the southern capital as well.

Erekat’s remarks came on the eve of the 21st anniversary of the 1988 unilateral decision of the PNC (Palestinian National Council) to declare a Palestinian state, a move that enjoyed some recognition, primarily from African states, but the
United States and Europe have not fallen in line. While Palestine enjoys observer status, it has also not been included as a member nation in the United Nations.

It appears at this point that the PA is planning to piggyback on the momentum of the Goldstone Report to lobby the Security Council to move ahead with the declaration, to compel a new reality vis-à-vis the State of Palestine. Foreign Ministry officials are monitoring the situation with concern, aware today, a unilateral declaration may indeed enjoy increase acceptance in the international community.

Officials in the Prime Minister’s Office are quoted as saying that any unilateral declaration of statehood would be a “mirage” and would lack substance without an agreement with Israel.