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Palestine Ponders Statehood as May 4 Approaches Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat visited a number of foreign capitals during the last week of March, 1999, seeking advice and support for Palestine's anticipated declaration of statehood, as set forth in the Oslo peace accords five years ago. Start Date: 3/25/99 Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat went on an international mission during the last week of March, seeking support for Palestinian statehood as the date of May 4, 1999 draws near. That was the date set for a declaration of statehood in the Oslo peace accords negotiated with Israel five years ago. However, while the peace process has moved forward in the intervening years, it has also suffered numerous delays and setbacks. At this time, the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vehemently opposed to a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood. Such a declaration, many feel, could be a terrible blow to further peace efforts. Arafat, who has referred to May 4 as a "sacred date," is clearly under pressure to postpone any unilateral move. For one thing, Israeli elections are scheduled for May 17, and Netanyahu's conservative Likud party is by no means assured of victory. The newly formed One Israel movement of Ehud Barak unites the Labor party and other groups representing the peace sentiments of assassinated former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Polls show Barak running slightly ahead of Netanyahu. But Likud's chances would undoubtedly improve if Arafat declares statehood -- and Arafat surely would prefer Barak's more moderate leadership in Israel. Arafat met with U.S. President Bill Clinton on March 23 and was told the U.S. would not support a unilateral statehood declaration. Arafat then moved on to meet with Canadian officials including Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and was given a slightly more supportive reception. Stewart Wheeler, a Canadian foreign affairs spokesman, said Canada "recognizes the legitimate rights of Palestinians... including the right to self-determination, but we believe this should be exercised through peace negotiations." Meanwhile, a draft statement by European Union nations is expected to be more supportive still. While stopping short of calling for immediate statehood, the draft statement reportedly declares "readiness to consider the recognition of a Palestinian state in due course." Arafat is now expected to put the decision on statehood to a vote of the PLO Central Committee at the end of April. As of now, it seems likely that a declaration of statehood will be postponed at least until after Israel's elections. But it also seems possible that a Palestinian state could come into being this year, with fairly broad international support. Excelsior, Michael Lindemann's new novel (written under the pen name Michael Paul), depicts a wholly plausible near future in which human cloning is both widespread and widely abused; terrorists have access to target-specific biological weapons; recreational space travel is commonplace; and mounting pressures of global climate change, environmental decline, population growth and civil unrest inspire radical new approaches to urban security. Built by Frontier on a Macintosh on 6/17/00; 12:03:50 PM. Web Comments - Produced by Larry Lowe Served 1826 times since 3/25/99.

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