Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi has been at the center of the contacts, while Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh reportedly is pressuring the UK.
By United With Israel Staff
The self-rule Palestinian Authority (PA) has never developed into a state as envisioned under accords reached with Israel in the 1990’s, due in large part to Palestinian terror that forced Israeli governments to freeze the process.
Nevertheless, PA officials continue to press various countries to recognize the PA as a state of Palestine.
PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has personally issued a call on Britain to take such a measure, according to the Arutz Sheva website.
WAFA, the PA’s own website, has reported on a campaign with the same objective that is being carried out by Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Ashrawi is known internationally due to her command of the English language and oratory skills which have earned her interviews in the international media.
Even as the PA tries to sway countries from attending the U.S.-led economic conference in late June in Bahrain, which is aimed at increasing prosperity among Palestinian civilians, the Palestinian officials have also included a call to recognize the non-existent Palestine.
On Monday, Ashrawi met with French Consul-General in Jerusalem Pierre Cochard, according to WAFA. The meeting reportedly took place at PLO Headquarters in Ramallah, the city that is considered the PA capital.
Ashrawi “called on France and other EU member states to take the lead in defending the prospects of peace and the standing of international law by recognizing Palestine,” said the PA news agency.
It followed a report from earlier this month in WAFA that Ashrawi had “called upon Austria to recognize the State of Palestine and proactively defend the prospects of peace.”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated that he would accept the establishment of a Palestinian state, but has back-pedaled, stating that the PA leadership encourages terror and is not a peace partner.
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