<i>South America takes the lead</i>
Photo: AFP
For Palestinians, this week there came some good news from South America when Brazil and Argentina officially recognised Palestine as a state on the basis of the pre-1967 war borders. More Latin American countries, such as Uruguay and Peru will soon make their declaration of recognising the future Palestinian state. Brazil also demanded Israel return all occupied lands as per UN resolutions.
It's a milestone that the Palestinians have achieved in their 60-year old struggle for independence. Now it's the turn of those countries to make the Palestinian issue and their right for an independent state, a corner stone of their foreign policy. Shedding tears on the Palestinian plight may not be sufficient to avert the situation on the ground. Unless some practical measures are taken, Israel will continue with its expansion policy of illegally occupying Palestinian land and suppressing any form of protest, with violent means.
The real friends of the Palestinians should not look for US' approval to act because both the Israeli and Americans are condemning what these South American countries have done. As per Ileana Ros, a Republican member of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, such a step by Brazil and others is equivalent to sabotaging the efforts being made by the US for peace and security in the region. Recognition of Palestine by Brazil and other South American countries may not change much on the ground, but it is a litmus test to identify the true friends and sympathizers of the Palestinians.
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