US Senate opposes unilateral declaration of Palestinian state

The United States Senate yesterday passed by a vote of 98-1 a non-binding (expression of opinion not legally binding) resolution stating the Senate's opposition to the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state and calling on the US president to clearly state US opposition to such a declaration.

"The final political status of the territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority can only be determined through negotiations and agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority," the statement said.

The resolution, introduced by Senator Sam Brownback on his own behalf and that of twelve other senators, said that "at the heart of the Oslo peace process lies the basic, irrevocable commitment made by Palestinian Chairman Yasir Arafat that, in his words, 'all outstanding issues relating to permanent status will be resolved through negotiations'"

It added, "A declaration of statehood by the Palestinians outside the framework of negotiations would, therefore, constitute a most fundamental violation of the Oslo process."

The resolution said that declaring the state unilaterally will "dramatically" undermine regional stability and risk "Israeli countermeasures, a quick descent into violence, and an end to the entire peace process."

Palestinian officials have marked May 4, the day on which the Oslo accords are to expire, as the day on which they will have the right to declare the independent Palestinian state.

There has been pressure on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to delay the state's declaration until after early Israeli elections, scheduled for late May.