RAMALLAH, December 5 (JMCC) - Brazil surprised the United States last week by recognizing the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, reports POLITICO.
Considering the request made by Your Excellency is fair and consistent with the principles advocated by Brazil to the Palestine question, Brazil, through this letter, recognizes a Palestinian state on 1967 borders, da Silva wrote in the letter to Abbas, dated Dec. 1.
In doing so, I reiterate the understanding of the Brazilian government that only dialogue and peaceful coexistence with its neighbors will truly advance the Palestinian cause, he wrote.
The move surprised us, a U.S. Latin American expert said Friday on condition of anonymity. What we had heard is that the Brazilians were looking at this and talking to some people in the region about it.
It was his understanding, he added, that the Israelis had only been told of the Brazilian decision on Thursday night, but even then, it wasn't clear that the letter made a firm commitment to recognize Palestine. Now it is.
Read the story at POLITICO...