Azerbaijan, Baku, August 25 / Trend U. Sadikhova /
The White House Administration and the European Union will recognize an independent Palestinian state if it is announced by 2011, official representative of the Palestinian Administration in Cairo, Nabil Shaath, said.
"The USA and Europe will recognize an independent Palestinian state if negotiations with Israel do not lead to any result in the next two years," ex-head of the Palestinians in the negotiations with Israel, Shaath, told Trend over the phone from Cairo.
The Palestinian leadership intends to declare an independent Palestinian state in 2011 based on EU High Commissioner for Foreign Policy Javier Solana's statements on the need to establish an independent state in the West Bank if peace talks with Israel within two years do not lead to any result," Shaath said.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Administration, Salem Fayyad, said in an interview with London newspaper The Times that the Palestinians intend to declare an independent state in 2011, even if a peace agreement with Israel is not signed. Fayyad added that the Palestinians intend to put an end to Israeli occupation
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, agreed to recognize the right of Palestinians to a state if the leadership of the West Bank recognizes Israel as a Jewish state.
Ex-Minister of Information of Palestinian Autonomy, Shaath, said that Prime Minister Fayyad's statements are based on optimism for a plan of truce in the Middle East, which will be proposed by U.S. President Barack Obama soon.
The U.S President's new plan involves establishing an independent Palestinian state within two years, and the EU supports this position, Shaath said.
Recognition of a future Palestinian state greately depends on the USA. For several months the USA has called for Israel to cease construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and continue negotiations on the establishment of a Palestinian state, Shaath said.
Israel has no choice but to recognize it (the independent Palestinian State) because the USA and the EU want it, Shaath said.
The international community must recognize an independent Palestinian state if the construction of settlements and occupation are not ceased within two years and we do not reach an agreement (with Israel).
Regarding with Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu's announcement to resume negotiations with Palestinians in September, Shaath said that the leadership of the West Bank does not consider Israel's position as serious because Netanyahu's government has not fulfilled the US and Palestinians' basic requirements.
"If Netanyahu fulfills two main points, demanded by U.S President Obama, including ceasing construction of Jewish settlements and recognizing Palestinians' right to a state, there is a chance to start negotiations," Shaath said.
The meeting will be held between the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in London on Wednesday.
Mitchell is expected to talk about further US actions in the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations during his upcoming visit to the region.
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