Europe Asked to Recognize Palestinian State

Palestinians say no talks until complete settlement freeze.

Courtesy: freefilisteen.com

(RAMALLAH) - Rejecting to hold any form of talks with Israel without a complete halt to settlement activity, the Palestinians have asked European countries to recognize an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip — a new step in the campaign to pursue statehood outside of a peace deal with Israel.

Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said on Thursday he asked France, Britain, Sweden and Denmark and the European Union envoy to the peace process to recognise the truce lines before the 1967 Mideast war as the borders between Israel and a Palestinian state.

Israel captured the Gaza Strip, West Bank and east Jerusalem — areas where the Palestinians want to establish an independent state — in the 1967 war and withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

The Palestinians also said they would not hold talks in any format without a complete halt to settlement activity. “There will not be any negotiations with Israel, in any form — direct, indirect or parallel — without an end to settlement,” said Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior member of the central committee of Fatah.

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