Palestinian leaders want single state but EU says no

Palestinian News.Net
Tuesday 17th November, 2009

The EU has said it is not ready to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Following the United States in the decision, Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said the time is not right for recognizing a Palestinian state.

Sweden currently holds the rotating European Union presidency.

While Palestinian leaders declared they would seek single state status at the United Nations, EU partners said they wanted to be in a position to recognize a Palestinian state, but there had to be one first.

The European Union has said it will now discuss other steps to increase support for Palestinian statehood.

Palestinian leaders have said they will seek statehood recognition from the UN Security Council for an area comprising the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

The United States was first to say any future Palestinian state should come about through negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.

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