EU threat to recognise Palestine state

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EUROPEAN Union foreign ministers have threatened to recognise an independent Palestinian state to punish Israel for refusing to halt illegal settlements.

A text seen by The Daily Telegraph warned of EU ''readiness, when appropriate, to recognise a Palestinian state'', increasing pressure on Israel following the effective collapse of direct Middle East peace talks last week.

''There is growing frustration with Israel after its refusal to commit to a new settlements freeze and patience is running out,'' a European diplomat said.

Advertisement: Story continues below During talks at the weekend, EU countries - including the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Sweden, Ireland, Greece, Luxembourg and Finland - urged a tougher stance.

Some countries argued that unless Israel reinstated a ban on Jewish settlements, the EU should recognise an independent state of Palestine with a seat at the United Nations.

In a letter to Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign minister, the Palestinian Authority ''affirmed the need for a EU recognition of two states along the 1967 borders and to oblige the Israeli government to completely halt settlement activity, including in east Jerusalem''.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/eu-threat-to-recognise-palestine-state-20101214-18ws4.html