On Monday, CNS News reported that the Palestinian foreign minister says he will seek United Nations recognition for a Palestinian state in September.  Chile announced Sunday that it would recognize Palestine as a state.  It is the fifth South American country to do so.

The article reports:

“While a majority for Palestine in the General Assembly seems possible, recognition by the Security Council — whose decisions are legally binding — would likely face an American veto.

“The September target date has the month shaping up to be a crucial one for the Palestinians. It also marks the time frame for President Barack Obama’s goal of reaching a peace deal and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s hope of having the foundations of the future state ready.”

Recognizing Palestine at this time would not be a positive thing for peace in the Middle East.  The Palestinians want their state in the lands Israel captured in the Mideast 1967 war–the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem.  There is no legal precedent in the world for requiring a soverign nation to give up half of its capital to form another nation (particularly one that is hostile to it!).

The article points out:

“The Palestinians appear to have a majority in the General Assembly, but are unlikely to get the go-ahead in the Security Council.

“The U.S. routinely vetoes measures Israel considers hostile, and the U.S. House of Representatives last week passed a resolution “condemning unilateral measures to declare or recognize a Palestinian state.”

“Israeli officials have called the recognition declarations meaningless and counterproductive to the peace process. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines, though he says he remains committed to negotiating a partition of the land.”

I would be willing to see a Palestinian State if that state would publicly affirm the right of Israel to exist.  Until that happens, a Palestinian state would simply be a haven for anti-Israel terrorists in the Middle East.