Comments made by Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat indicate that the Palestinians will unilaterally declare independence from Israel along the June 4, 1967 border, effectively on the green line that would include Jerusalem in the sovereign country.
Palestinian leaders are actively lobbying countries for their support on the proposal and reports indicate that a measure could reach the floor of the United Nations. Russia and Latin American countries seem to be the main targets for support, although Palestinian officials have had discussions with European officials.
This initiative differs from the proposals of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad who preaches for the development of state institutions in the territories. Under his proposal, the Palestinians would establish the institutions that would naturally and eventually turn the West Bank and Gaza Strip into an independent state from Israel.
This distinction between declaring statehood and developing statehood is extremely important and the future of a future Palestinian state could hinge on which strategy is taken.
