US should recognise state of Palestine
The UN Human Rights Council has called for an independent fact-finding inquiry to investigate the implications of Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people. Most of the world agrees that th
The probe aimed to help legitimise infringed upon, inhumane, wronged rights was welcomed by the West-backed Palestinian Authority. Quite predictably, the belligerent Israeli contrarian-doth-protest leadership has declared its vehement refusal to cooperate, putting a smear-and-fear public deflation campaign into high gear. The status-quo impasse is neither sustainable nor justifiable.
The most viable, better-than-nothing solution should start with stopping illegal settlement expansion, accepting the 1967 borders and preserving the diminished options of a two-state solution. The US could re-energise the stalemated negotiations by formally recognising Palestine as a sovereign state and establishing full diplomatic relations with it. The question now is not if but when!
Charles Frederickson
