OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Palestinian plans to establish a state by summer in agreement with Israel remain on track and they do not intend to seek alternatives such as unilateral recognition from the international community, a top Palestinian official said in an interview aired Saturday. Given the stalemate in peace talks with Israel, some other Palestinian officials have been trying to rally international recognition for an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Occupied East Jerusalem even without a deal with Israel. However, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said in a rare interview this is not his goal. “What we are looking for now is a state of Palestine. We are not looking for yet another declaration of statehood. We are not looking for a unilateral declaration of statehood,” he said in an interview with Israel's Channel 2 TV. “I really do not have a Plan B. ... I am not going to offer alternatives.” The interview was the first Fayyad - who heads the moderate West Bank government under Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - has granted to an Israeli TV station since becoming prime minister in 2007. Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are at an impasse over Israel's refusal to meet Palestinian demands for a freeze on Jewish settlements in areas Palestinians want for a future state. Fayyad used his rare appearance before the Israeli public to reaffirm his rejection of violence and call on Israelis not to give up hope for peace. “We should not be discouraged because we have failed so many times before,” he said. Bolivia recognizes Palestine Bolivia recognized Palestine as an independent state Friday, following the lead of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Bolivian President Evo Morales said his government would send a letter to Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, recognizing Palestine as “an independent and sovereign state.” Speaking at a news conference in Paraguay, Morales said Bolivia would officially notify international institutions of its decision next week. He charged that “genocide” was being committed in the region and called on the international community to assume responsibility for preventing it. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay recognized Palestine as an independent state earlier this month, drawing a rebuke from Israel.
