PA slams US House for opposing unilateral statehood

Saeb Erekat says measure contradicts Obama ME policy; US can't prevent other countries from recognizing sovereign "Palestine."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Saeb Erekat 311 AP (photo credit: AP)
Saeb Erekat 311 AP
(photo credit: AP)
Chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat on Friday expressed sharp dissatisfaction over a resolution passed by the US House of Representatives on Wednesday opposing any unilateral steps to create a sovereign, independent Palestinian state, according to an AFP report."Through the passage of this resolution, the US Congress is contradicting the policy of the American government to create a Palestinian state by hindering the ability of the Palestinians to navigate around the Israeli government's obstructionist policies," Erekat was quoted by AFP as saying.
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He continued, stating defiantly that "Recognizing the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders is a sovereign, unilateral decision of individual states. While the United States can choose to withhold recognition of our state, it cannot obstruct other countries from exercising this sovereign right."
Elsewhere on Friday, Bolivia joined the list of South American countries that announced their recognition of a fully sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with Israel, Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported.
Bolivian President Evo Morales made the announcement in Brazil at a conference with regional leaders, Bolivia's Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
“Bolivia recognizes the Palestinian state along 1967 borders, together with Brazil and Argentina,” Morales was quoted as saying.