US First Lady Changes Position on Palestinian Statehood
(IsraelWire-4/22-1999) The First Lady of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton,
has indicated a change in policy regarding her earlier statement made last year,
pertaining to a Palestinian state. Mrs. Clinton has now indicated her opposition
to a unilateral PLO Authority (PA) declaration of a Palestinian state, contrary
to her remarks last year.
"We oppose any unilateral step that prejudges the outcome of the negotiations," she said Tuesday to applause from the 700 guests at a United Jewish Appeal dinner.
"If peace is to be realized, then all people and the leaders of all people must agree before they take any unilateral steps that would undermine the peace process. If peace is to be lasting, it has to be negotiated and agreed on."
Last year, Mrs. Clinton stated she believed a Palestinian state would serve the long-term interests of the Middle East as well as the Palestinian people.
Mrs. Clinton did not specifically refer to the PA in her remarks Tuesday night. But she was clearly alluding to concerns that PA leader Yassir Arafat might unilaterally declare statehood on May 4, when a five-year interim period of autonomy for Judea, Samaria and Gaza comes to an end.
