PM Threatens Annexation if PA Declares State By Danna Harman, Jerusalem Post 11 January 1999 JERUSALEM - Amid reports that the Palestinian Authority is being pressured by the Egyptians to defer the declaration of statehood, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu weighed in with his own kind of pressure yesterday, threatening that if PA Chairman Yasser Arafat goes forward with a unilateral declaration on May 4, Israel will annex sections of the West Bank. Netanyahu reportedly told the cabinet that "some circles" in Cairo may have recommended to Arafat that he not declare a Palestinian state before the May 17 elections - in the hope that the government will change, and "on the assumption that Arafat will then be able to create a Palestinian state and divide Jerusalem without any serious Israeli opposition." Those same circles, continued Netanyahu, know that the present government, in contrast, will not stand for any such declaration - which is what should really sway the PA. "Israel reserves the right to extend Israeli law to the territories under its control if Arafat and the Palestinians violate the agreements they have signed," a cabinet statement quoted Netanyahu as saying. "We will not allow Arafat and the Palestinians to determine the borders of our state and the future of our capital," he added. "We will continue to adhere to our firm and clear policy, which does not allow for the creation of a Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel, and we will not allow Jerusalem to be redivided." A spokesman from the US Embassy said the US position was and remains that no unilateral declaration of statehood should be made, for the sole reason that this would be a unilateral action which would upset final-status negotiations. Arafat aides refused to confirm or deny such willingness, and Palestinian parliament speaker Ahmed Qurei blasted what he called Netanyahu's arrogance and foolishness. "We are ready and able to continue the struggle until our national rights are recognized - our independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as our capital," he told lawmakers in Ramallah. |
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