Israel rejected a European Union call for the United Nations to officially recognize a Palestinian state by a certain deadline regardless of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians over a peace deal.
On Saturday, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana called on the international community to set a deadline for recognizing a Palestinian state. “The mediator has to set the timetable," Solana said. “If the parties are not able to stick to it, then a solution backed by the international community should... be put on the table.”
“After a fixed deadline, a UN Security Council resolution should proclaim the adoption of the two-state solution. This should include all the parameters of borders, refugees, Jerusalem and security arrangements.”
“It would accept the Palestinian state as a full member of the UN, and set a calendar for implementation. It would mandate the resolution of other remaining territorial disputes and legitimize the end of claims.”
The Israeli foreign ministry rejected the call saying in a statement, “Any approach that calls for an artificial deadline undermines the prospects of actually reaching a bilateral agreement.”
Responding to Solona’s call, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli public radio, “A peace agreement can come only following direct negotiations and cannot be imposed.”
