Yassir Abed Rabbo Calls for a Unilateral Palestinian Independence, Erikat Opposes Another Declaration and Calls for Real Independence

Abbas aide: Palestine should declare independence like Kosovo if talks fail

Date: 20 / 02 / 2008 Time: 11:45

Bethlehem – Ma'an –

A senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that Palestinians should follow the example of Kosovo and unilaterally declare independence if Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations fail, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the Palestinian negotiating team, said, "If things are not going in the direction of actually halting settlement activities, if things are not going in the direction of continuous and serious negotiations, then we should take the step and announce our independence unilaterally."

"Kosovo is not better than us. We deserve independence even before Kosovo, and we ask for the backing of the United States and the European Union for our independence," Abed Rabbo added.

Abed Rabbo made this remark after Tuesday's meeting between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, amid growing concerns that the talks are not showing signs of progress.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on Monday, gaining the immediate recognition of Western powers such as the United States, United Kingdom, and France.

President Abbas later ruled out a unilateral declaration. "We will pursue negotiations in order to reach a peace agreement during 2008 that includes the settlement of all final status issues including Jerusalem," Abbas said .

"But if we cannot achieve that, and we reach a deadlock, we will go back to our Arab nation to take the necessary decision at the highest level," he continued.

Saeb Erekat, the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) chief negotiator told Reuters that he opposes a unilateral declaration, noting that the PLO declared independence in 1988.

"Now we need real independence, not a declaration. We need real independence by ending the occupation. We are not Kosovo. We are under Israeli occupation and for independence we need to acquire independence," Erekat said.

***Updated at 13:23 Bethlehem time

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