Argentina recognizes Palestinian state

Press TV, Mon Dec 6, 2010 5:38PM

Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas (L) and Argentine President Cristina Kirchner Argentina has become the second Latin American state after Brazil to recognize Palestine as an independent state.

In a letter to acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, Argentine President Cristina Kirchner wrote that her country recognizes Palestine as a "free and independent state" as defined by the 1967 borders, AFP reported.

On Friday, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry announced that Brasilia recognizes the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

The Brazilian announcement came in a public letter in response to a personal request by Abbas on November 24.

The Brazilian letter expressed support for the Palestinians' quest for a homeland as a "legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people for a secure, united, democratic and economically viable state."

The move has infuriated officials in Tel Aviv.

US Congressman Eliot Engel criticized the Brazilian move and said, "Brazil's decision to recognize Palestine is severely misguided and represents a last gasp by a Lula-led foreign policy which was already substantially off track."

The international community backs Palestinian demands for a state in most of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem), all territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.

AGB/AKM/MMN

Argentina Recognizes Palestine Within its 1967 Borders

Monday December 06, 2010 16:05 by Ane Irazabal - IMEMC & Agencies

After Brazil's decision to recognize a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, confirmed, on Sunday, that she would also recognize an independent Palestine with the same parameters.

The announcement was made by a phone call to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in which Kirchner added that that her recognition was not just a political gesture, but a moral stand.

On Monday, the General Secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Yasser Abed Rabbo, said that Argentina's gesture is a sign that the previous decision made by Brazil has encouraged other Latin American countries and hoped also other countries may add.

Brazil announced its official recognition of a Palestinian state on December 3, responding to a request sent by Abbas on November 24, through a letter from the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to Abbas. Lula stressed "the need to achieve the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and to create a secure, democratic and economically viable state, coexisting in peace with Israel."

After that, Brazil suffered recrimination from the Israeli foreign ministry and several American congressmen, who consider that the Palestinian state cannot be declared unilaterally, but through the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which now are in a stand by.

More than 100 countries have already recognized an independent Palestine within its '67 borders, including all Arab countries, most African nations and part of the new Asian economic potencies, such as China and India.

Argentina recognizes Palestine

Published yesterday (updated) 06/12/2010 20:01

BUENOS AIRES (AFP), Maan -

Argentina said Monday it recognized a "free and independent" Palestinian state, days after Brazil drew sharp criticism from Israel and US lawmakers for taking the same step.

Argentine President Cristina Kirchner wrote to her Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas saying her country recognizes a Palestine defined by 1967 borders, officials said.

"The Argentine government recognizes Palestine as a free and independent state within the borders defined in 1967," Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said, reading from the letter.

Israel has already reacted with "sadness and disappointment" to Brazil's declaration on the issue, saying it breached a 1995 agreement it had with the Palestinian Authority that any Palestinian state should only come about through negotiations with it.

US lawmakers have called Brazil's decision "severely misguided" and "regrettable."

Western countries have agreed that any definition of a Palestinian state required Israeli approval. The United States has consistently protected Israel's position in the UN Security Council.

Argentina's move came after Brazil last Friday made public a letter it had sent also recognizing a Palestinian state including West Bank and Gaza, which Israel seized in the 1967 Six Day War and has occupied since.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who had sought a mediator role in the Israeli-Palestinian situation, made the decision shortly before he is to stand down on 1 January next year.

His protegee and former cabinet chief, Dilma Rousseff, has been elected to take over from him on pledges to pursue his policies.

Argentina said its recognition of a Palestinian state reflected a general consensus in Mercosur, the South American trade bloc.

Mercosur's members are: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Venezuela's membership is pending. Associate members are: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador Ecuador and Peru.

The announcements by Brazil and Argentina come as peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians teeter on the brink of collapse following the end of a temporary ban on Jewish settlement building in the West Bank.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Monday he did "not see any reason" to extend the settlement freeze.

Abbas has said he will not return to negotiations while Israel continues to build on land the Palestinians want for their state.

He has repeatedly said he would explore other options if the peace talks collapse -- including asking for UN recognition of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.