U.S. State Department Spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, stated that, until peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state, the United States will not refer to the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) as the state of Palestine.Her statements came in response to a decree issued by Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, to rename the P. A. as the State of Palestine, and to change all official documents to reflect this modification.
In a press conference Monday, Nuland said that “a Palestinian state cannot be created through speeches and documents, as states are established through talks and negotiations”.
She also said that U.S. special envoy, David Hale, will be holding a meeting with Abbas, Tuesday, to inform him that his decision is “a bad idea”, and that “peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians must be resumed without any further delay.”
It is worth mentioning that the U.S. stance is coherent with the position of Tel Aviv as Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that Israel rejects the decree and will not recognize it, and added that “the Palestinian state can only be born through a peace agreement with Israel”.
The decree that was issued by Abbas calls for using the name State of Palestine on all official documents, this includes passports, ID cards, driving licenses and official letterhead within the coming two months.
The Abbas-led P.A. in the West Bank had to quit peace talks with Tel Aviv due to Israel’s ongoing violations against the Palestinians and their property.
These violations are topped by Israel’s construction and expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, and the ongoing demolition of Palestinian homes in the city.
