Palestinian State recognized by S. American Nations

[Sela]

http://www.jpost.com/International/Arti ... ?id=198288

South American countries recognize Palestinian state
By HERB KEINON AND JORDANA HORN
12/06/2010 22:22

After initial recognition by Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay follow suit, recognize "free and independent" Palestine with 1967 borders; Israel: recognition contradicts road map.
Talkbacks (9)

Israel Monday night expressed "regret and disappointment" at South American countries' decision to recognize an independent Palestinian state.

"Recognition of a Palestinian state is a violation of the interim agreement signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority in 1995, which established that the status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip will be discussed and solved through negotiations," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

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Reciprocal unilateralism

The statement said that recognition of a Palestinian state also contradicts the road map.

"All attempts to bypass negotiations and to unilaterally determine issues in dispute will only harm the trust of the sides and their commitment to agreed upon frameworks for negotiations," the statement read.

Following in Brazil’s footsteps, Argentina and Uruguay said Monday they recognized a "free and independent" Palestinian state, to the criticism of Israeli, as well as American leaders.

Argentina’s President Cristina Kirchner told Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in a letter that her country recognizes a Palestine defined by 1967 borders, Argentine 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.

"Uruguay will surely follow the same path as Argentina in 2011," Uruguayan Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Conde told AFP.

"We are working towards opening a diplomatic representation in Palestine, most likely in Ramallah," he said.

Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s letter to Abbas last Friday confirmed similar recognition of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.

The Palestinian ambassador in Argentina reacted with "joy and enthusiasm" to Argentina and Uruguay's announcements on Monday, and said he expected other South American countries to follow suit, reported AFP.

The American Jewish Committee called the recognition of an independent Palestinian state by the South American countries both worrisome and counterproductive.

“Such a commitment to the Palestinian Authority by Brazil and Argentina is fundamentally unhelpful to the Arab-Israeli peace process,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “Circumventing the established peace process will only encourage the PA to unilaterally declare independence, a move that would undermine the prospect for durable peace that can only emerge as an outcome of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations."

“If Latin American countries truly want to support Arab-Israeli peace, they should be pressing President Abbas to return to the direct talks that were revived with US assistance three months ago, and suspended a few weeks later by Abbas,” said Harris. “Otherwise, however unintentionally, they are only further complicating an already complex situation and, for practical purposes, throwing a diplomatic monkey wrench into the process.”

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

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




No comment.

[StarshipTitanic]

That was a neat way for South American nations to snub the US without doing much. Is there some particular motivation that prompted the recognition?

[HarrionGreyjoy]

Well, that was not a piece of news I was expecting when I woke up today.

Looks like Israel's diplomatic situation is (even?) less secure than it used to be.

[SecondToDie]

"Recognition of a Palestinian state is a violation of the interim agreement signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority in 1995, which established that the status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip will be discussed and solved through negotiations," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

I'm curious as to how South American countries are bound by a treaty signed between Israel and the PA.

[Sela]

Does the treaty state that Palestine will work to *not* be recognized? I mean, I can't imagine any other way in which this statement could be true.

Though I suppose it might just be a roundabout way of trying to tell off S. America for its decision.

[Shroom Man 777]

This is a victory for state's rights, and I applaud the South American states in their support for the Palestinian people's freedom against terror, and their right to democracy, truth, and the Palestinianimerican way. Those who are not with this decision, those who are against this decision, no doubt are villains who might as well be in an evil axis of evil. This is a triumph of human rights, of freedom, of democracy, and so on. God bless Palestine. God willing, soon Operation Palestine Freedom will come to an end, and the mission will be accomplished.

[Ritterin Sophia]

That was a neat way for South American nations to snub the US without doing much. Is there some particular motivation that prompted the recognition?

How exactly is that snubbing the US?

[Spekio]

That was a neat way for South American nations to snub the US without doing much. Is there some particular motivation that prompted the recognition?

Yes. Bearded Frog wants Brazil to have a seat in UN's security council. Same reason we started doing business with China a couple years back.

I don't really think he wanted to snub US, he just want to come out as a "Peace Diplomat", after all, since his term is done, he wants a job at UN.

[StarshipTitanic]

That was a neat way for South American nations to snub the US without doing much. Is there some particular motivation that prompted the recognition?

How exactly is that snubbing the US?

Because South America has been making moves towards regional solidarity. Staking out a diplomatic agenda separate from the US furthers that goal.

That was a neat way for South American nations to snub the US without doing much. Is there some particular motivation that prompted the recognition?

Yes. Bearded Frog wants Brazil to have a seat in UN's security council. Same reason we started doing business with China a couple years back.

I don't really think he wanted to snub US, he just want to come out as a "Peace Diplomat", after all, since his term is done, he wants a job at UN.

In that case, how would he overcome the American veto?

[Ritterin Sophia]

Because South America has been making moves towards regional solidarity. Staking out a diplomatic agenda separate from the US furthers that goal.

US and South America had a shared agenda to begin with?

[Spekio]

In that case, how would he overcome the American veto?

No Idea. I don't see it coming to fruition, anyway.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Because South America has been making moves towards regional solidarity. Staking out a diplomatic agenda separate from the US furthers that goal.

US and South America had a shared agenda to begin with?

Well, S. America was America's bitch since the Monroe doctrine so...

[Ritterin Sophia]

Well, S. America was America's bitch since the Monroe doctrine so...

To keep Europe out of our domain, we're not concerned with what the South American countries do to themselves unless it's directly counter to our interests. Simply saying Palestine exists is not against our interests.

[StarshipTitanic]

To keep Europe out of our domain, we're not concerned with what the South American countries do to themselves unless it's directly counter to our interests. Simply saying Palestine exists is not against our interests.

Recognizing a Palestinian state is different than saying Palestine exists. The former is against US policy in the region.

[Talhe]

Recognizing a Palestinian state is different than saying Palestine exists. The former is against US policy in the region.

Wasn't that what Oslo was about?

[bobalot]

Well, S. America was America's bitch since the Monroe doctrine so...

To keep Europe out of our domain, we're not concerned with what the South American countries do to themselves unless it's directly counter to our interests. Simply saying Palestine exists is not against our interests.

You make it sound like there was very little American interference in South America or that American interventions were only in response to major problems that were directly in opposition to American interests (like the Cuban Missile Crisis).

The U.S helped overthrow Government of Guatemala in 1954 because it decided to enact land reform and redistribute uncultivated land to peasants (landowners were compensated). This roused the ire of the United Fruit Company (who had large banana plantations there), who lobbied the U.S government to "deal with" Guatemalan government. Eventually some silly pretext of Communist takeover was made up and a democratically elected government was overthrown and 40 years of brutal military dictatorship was ushered in because of fucking bananas.

[Ritterin Sophia]

You make it sound like there was very little American interference in South America or that American interventions were only in response to major problems that were directly in opposition to American interests (like the Cuban Missile Crisis).

No I didn't, that's you reading things into what I actually did say, I was generalizing, sorry if you don't like it.

America has been trying for decades to get Israel to recognize and treat Palestine as an independent state instead of an apartheid one. This is not directly against American interests and the parameters you guys are setting for a political jab against America is so woefully undefined that any disagreement big or small could be considered a 'jab'.

[K. A. Pital]

America has been trying for decades to get Israel to recognize and treat Palestine as an independent state instead of an apartheid one.

America has been doing jack fucking shit for that. It could've held Israel by the throat and threatened to cut off any and all military aid, and Israel wouldn't be in a "tail wags the dog" position any longer. However, America does not want to actually put any serious pressure on Israel, and calling fucking fig leaves and blah-blah-blah a "serious effort", especially when America has a multitude of options at its disposal, is downright insulting. This is nowhere near the pressure put on South Africa, although America could easily do the same.

Also, Jewrael shit is going to be flushed right now, and I'll bring it up before others to see if further action is needed.

[mr friendly guy]

America has been trying for decades to get Israel to recognize and treat Palestine as an independent state instead of an apartheid one. This is not directly against American interests and the parameters you guys are setting for a political jab against America is so woefully undefined that any disagreement big or small could be considered a 'jab'.

You guys may want that, but IIRC you aren't exactly recognising Palestine as an independent state NOW, and are waiting for Israel to iron out a deal with the Palestinians before you commit, no? In which case what the South American nations are doing could be seen as "going over your (USA's) head."

[Ritterin Sophia]

America has been doing jack fucking shit for that. It could've held Israel by the throat and threatened to cut off any and all military aid, and Israel wouldn't be in a "tail wags the dog" position any longer. However, America does not want to actually put any serious pressure on Israel, and calling fucking fig leaves and blah-blah-blah a "serious effort", especially when America has a multitude of options at its disposal, is downright insulting. This is nowhere near the pressure put on South Africa, although America could easily do the same.

Eh, I'd like to see Israel cut off and embargoes slammed onto it, but, eh.

[Molyneux]

America has been doing jack fucking shit for that. It could've held Israel by the throat and threatened to cut off any and all military aid, and Israel wouldn't be in a "tail wags the dog" position any longer. However, America does not want to actually put any serious pressure on Israel, and calling fucking fig leaves and blah-blah-blah a "serious effort", especially when America has a multitude of options at its disposal, is downright insulting. This is nowhere near the pressure put on South Africa, although America could easily do the same.

Eh, I'd like to see Israel cut off and embargoes slammed onto it, but, eh.

That's right, cut off an already-paranoid nation, surrounded by enemies, and armed with nuclear fucking weapons from all outside trade, and try to muscle them around. That's a bright move.

[K. A. Pital]

America has been doing jack fucking shit for that. It could've held Israel by the throat and threatened to cut off any and all military aid, and Israel wouldn't be in a "tail wags the dog" position any longer. However, America does not want to actually put any serious pressure on Israel, and calling fucking fig leaves and blah-blah-blah a "serious effort", especially when America has a multitude of options at its disposal, is downright insulting. This is nowhere near the pressure put on South Africa, although America could easily do the same.

Eh, I'd like to see Israel cut off and embargoes slammed onto it, but, eh.

That's right, cut off an already-paranoid nation, surrounded by enemies, and armed with nuclear fucking weapons from all outside trade, and try to muscle them around. That's a bright move.

*laughs* America did exactly this with nations it did not like, e.g. the USSR, or, for that matter, the above-mentioned South Africa which had a nuclear program.

What I meant to say was that America is not behaving as if it were willing to put pressure on Israel or that it wants a Palestinian state to exist at all - if it were, it would behave just in the same fashion as with South Africa.

[Ritterin Sophia]

That's right, cut off an already-paranoid nation, surrounded by enemies, and armed with nuclear fucking weapons from all outside trade, and try to muscle them around. That's a bright move.

So you're now going to have to explain how that's any different from North Korea.

[Zed]

North Korea has a measure of support in China.

[Thanas]

And Israel has in Europe.

But nobody is going to cut off Israel due to guilt.