Towards an independent state for Palestinians

The General Assembly's decision to upgrade Palestine's status in the UN from that of an observer to a virtual state is a de facto recognition of the national rights of the Palestinians to establish their own independent state. Much to the dismay of the Americans and the Israelis, the motion in the UN passed with an overwhelming majority.

The significance of the upgrading lies in the new powers given to the Palestinians in the UN, rather than on just the ceremonial and symbolic meaning behind the move.

What is perhaps of even greater significance is that the May 1999 deadline for the termination of the Palestinian-Israeli Oslo peace accords is fast approaching, with PLO president Yasser Arafat threatening to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state in parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

This designation has proved to gauge international opinion with regards to a future Palestinian state. If the present Israeli government is farsighted enough, it would do well to its international standing to heed the wishes of the Palestinians and go forth with the overdue second and third troop withdrawals from the West Bank in accordance with the signed agreements.

-- The Jordan Times, Amman