Palestinian state delay reaction

US State Department spokesman James Rubin said yesterday that the US welcomes the Palestinian decision to delay a decision on making a unilateral announcement of a Palestinian state at the Oslo accords' expiration on May 4 until after May 17 Israeli elections.

The spokesperson of the French Foreign Ministry emphasized that the Palestinian decision to delay the statehood decision does not change the Palestinian right to a state. The spokesperson said that France encourages the resumption of negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.