EU: ‘Premature’ to recognize Palestinian state

November 17, 2009

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The European Union said it was "premature" to recognize a Palestinian state.

EU foreign ministers were set Tuesday to discuss the Palestinian's intention, announced over the weekend, to ask the United Nations Security Council to declare a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza on the 1967 borders, with eastern Jerusalem as its capital.

"I don't think we are there yet," Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Tuesday, according to reports. "I would hope we would be in a position to recognize a Palestinian state, but there has to be one first. So I think that is a bit premature."

Later, he said, "We would be ready to recognize a Palestinian state, but conditions are not there as of yet."

Sweden currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU. France and Britain, which are EU members, are permanent members of the Security Council and have veto power.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Sunday that a unilateral declaration of a state by the Palestinian Authority could lead to unilateral actions by Israel, including annexing settlements.

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EU: ‘Premature’ to recognize Palestinian state

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