Israel warns Palestinians against unilateral steps
As the political stalemate continued, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat revealed on Saturday that the Palestinians intend to ask the UN Security Council to recognize an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Israeli ministers, who convened Sunday morning for their weekly session, showed recent developments have resulted in a hardening of positions - at least publicly.
"Unilateral steps will not lead to the results we are hoping to achieve," Vice Premier Silvan Shalom told reporters before the meeting. "The only result should be direct negotiations."
Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau said that if the Palestinians took unilateral steps, the Israeli army should retake areas in the occupied West Bank that are currently under Palestinian control.
"This is a hostile initiative aimed at ending any chance of peace negotiations. If they go for a unilateral declaration it should be followed by the extension of our control," Landau said.
Washington has tried unsuccessfully for months to get Israelis and Palestinians to resume peace negotiations that were suspended during the Gaza war at the turn of the year.
Palestinian officials have in recent weeks touted a number of steps in the face of the fledgling peace efforts, including a unilateral declaration of statehood and asking the UN Security Council to determine the final borders of the state; Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com for full version.