Despite American criticism, Argentine President Cristina Kirchner has announced her nation is joining Brazil in recognizing Palestine as a "free and independent" state. Additionally, Uruguay has issued a statement supporting this position.
The South American states said they are recognizing Palestine as a nation along the 1967 borders, say the West Bank, Gaza Strip and occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli officials voiced "regret" as Israel's Foreign Ministry stating Brazil had violated the 1995 Oslo Accords in recognizing Palestine. "Recognition of a Palestinian state is a violation of the interim agreement signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 1995, which established that the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip will be discussed and solved through negotiations," the Jerusalem Post quoted Israel's foreign ministry as saying in a statement late Monday.
