Statehood Delayed

The top Palestinian policy-making body on Sunday put off a declaration of statehood for at least two months, in a bid to give faltering peace talks a chance, and called for concrete measures to start preparing for statehood.

The Palestinian Central Council's decision came after two days of long-awaited debate, although it was clear that the current deadline of Sept. 13 would be put off. PCC chairman Salim Zanoun said the body now expects a progress report on statehood by Nov. 15, the 12th anniversary of a symbolic declaration of statehood-in-exile.

The council made clear that the postponement was not a long-term delay, but was rather designed to provide the faltering peace talks with breathing space.

In New York, where Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is traveling, his spokesman, Gadi Baltiansky, called the move "a positive step."

"We believe it is a result of the position of the international community which opposes unilateral steps that can only hurt the peace process," Baltiansky said.

Word leaders have warned Arafat that a unilateral declaration would not only harm the delicate peace process but also could provoke violent conflict with Israel, which has threatened "counter-measures" in such an event.

"The Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership remain committed to the choice of peace as a strategic choice in order to achieve justice and comprehensive peace and in order to fulfill the goals of the Palestinian people of self-determination," the statement said.

It said the council had authorized preparation of certain measures of statehood "during the coming period," including setting up legislative and presidential elections and working toward Palestinian membership in the United Nations. And it said the council would meet again by Nov. 15 to assess progress on these issues.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are to resume soon between second-level negotiators. In his speech on Saturday to the legislators, Arafat said negotiations with Israel would shift into high gear and last for five weeks.

Both sides acknowledged that prospects were not good.

"The main problem remains, and that is sovereignty over Jerusalem," said Cabinet Minister Nabil Shaath. "No Palestinian leader can sacrifice sovereignty over Jerusalem."

Talks have been hung up especially over the Temple Mount, known to Palestinians as Haram as-Sharif, the home of sites sacred to both Muslims and Jews.

Barak, speaking from New York before the vote in an interview with ABC News, said that the likely delay "is a positive sign, but we still have to have no illusions. We still have a lot of work to do."

Arafat dearly wants to realize his lifelong dream of declaring statehood for his people. But he knows that a state without Israeli approval would encounter huge if not insurmountable obstacles, and that a unilateral declaration could provoke violent conflict with Israel.

World leaders have also warned Arafat during his recent whirlwind travels that a state declared outside the framework of a peace accord would garner little international support.

However, if Arafat were to delay statehood too long, he could suffer huge damage to his credibility among ordinary Palestinians, who share his dream.

By IBRAHIM BARZAK
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