BICOM

A group of prominent left-wing Israeli intellectual and public figures have signed a letter urging European leaders to support the Palestinian bid for an independent state from the UN in September. The letter was organised by the Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement, who also organise weekly demonstrations in East Jerusalem. Some of the signatories included former Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg, former Foreign Ministry Director General Alon Liel, former Ambassador to South Africa Ilan Baruch, Nobel laureate Professor Daniel Kahneman, and Israel Prize Winner Professor Avishai Margalit.

An extract of the letter reads, ‘As Israeli citizens, we announce that if and when the Palestinian people declare independence of a sovereign state that will exist next to Israel in peace and security, we will support such the announcement of the Palestinian State with borders based on the 1967 lines, with needed land swaps on a 1:1 basis.’  Additionally, the signatories said that recognition of Israel by the ruling government in the Gaza Strip would bring about mutual recognition on the part of Israel. The letter also called on the international community to recognise an independent Palestinian state based on the principles outlined in the letter.

Meanwhile, A group of 60 international attorneys, including former Foreign Ministry legal adviser Alan Baker, have sent a letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calling on the UN to prevent a General Assembly resolution recognising a Palestinian unilateral declaration of a state, based on the pre-1967 borders. The letter, which was sent on Wednesday, said such a resolution would violate past Israeli and Palestinian agreements and would contravene UN resolutions 242 and 338.