Palestinian State Declaration Urged (State‪)‬

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has repeatedly floated an idea to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and to seek international recognition for it. Although Arab commentators have warned obstacles stand in the way of such a move, they seem to agree it is inevitable. "It's urgent, even vital for the Palestinian national movement, to reproduce itself in light of its experience in fending off the cruelties of the occupation state (Israel) ... and in dealing with world powers," Mohammed Mashmoushi, a Lebanese commentator, wrote in the Beirut-based influential daily AN NAHAR on Dec. 10.