WASHINGTON, DC–The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) welcomed today’s statement by British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressing his support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Blair threw his support behind Palestinian statehood following his meeting earlier today with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in London. Blair was quoted as saying that the objective of Middle East peacemaking is “A viable Palestinian state, as part of a negotiated and agreed settlement, which guarantees peace and security for Israel.”
ADC President Ziad Asali commented that “Blair’s remarks are a welcome development, particularly at a time when the United States, indeed the world community, seeks to initiate new final status peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis.” Asali emphasized that “This message of support by the British government gives such talks a clear objective to pursue, which was absent during the Oslo process.”
Asali concluded that “Britain’s support for a viable Palestinian state, coupled with last week’s similar endorsement by President George W. Bush, enhance the prospects for renewed peace negotiations in the Middle East aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region.”
ADC is the largest Arab-American grassroots organization in the United States. Since its inception in 1980, ADC has advocated the need for an independent and viable Palestinian states in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital.