Israel’s arrogance
By: Harun Ur Rashid |


In April 2003, the US together with the EU, UN and Russia (known as the Quartet) released its roadmap that outlined a three-stage programme leading to an independent Palestinian state by 2005.
By 2010, no Palestine state had been constituted because of Israel’s defiant policy of continuing illegal settlements in Palestinian lands with impunity.
The Palestinian leadership walked out of the peace talks, revived by the US three months ago, in anger at Israel’s refusal to extend a halt on building settlements in the communities, which is viewed as illegal by the international community. The Palestinians have said that if there were no renewed negotiation effort, they would go to the UN Security Council with a unilateral declaration of statehood.
Since the collapse of the peace talks and Israel’s refusal to renew the settlement-building moratorium settlers have laid foundations for hundreds of new homes, according to the Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now. The Palestinians have responded by preparing a UN draft resolution condemning the settlements, which, in the West Bank, are home to 300,000 Israelis, with 200,000 living in East Jerusalem.
It is noted that the state of Palestine is currently recognised by more than 100 countries, including Bangladesh. Israel is not the legal sovereign of the occupied territory. It has held the occupied territory illegally under international law since 1967. Palestine is also an observer member in the UN.
On February 21, 2010, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said: “One can envision the proclamation soon of a Palestinian state, and its immediate recognition by the international community even before negotiating borders.”
The reported French statement has been very significant in two ways. First, it demolishes Israel’s argument that Palestinian state cannot be recognised until borders are negotiated between Israeli and Palestinian leaderships. Second, recognition of a state has nothing to do with the borders of states, which are to be settled or negotiated. For example, current recognition of Israel by other states does not recognise Israel’s claimed borders or its claim on whole city of Jerusalem.