Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia recognized a state of Palestine in December, joining a number of other nations that have done so in the past.
Ligia Maria Scherer, a career diplomat who holds the rank of ambassador, heads Brazil's representation office in Ramallah. She explains why her government recognized a Palestinian state.
"Brazil believes that with this granting of recognition, we can contribute to peace in the region," Scherer said. "That is the objective, the purpose of everything that Brazil does concerning the question of Palestine and Israel."
The Palestinians hope to eventually have the United Nations recognize their sovereignty.
Lobbying individual countries to grant recognition puts them on track to winning a majority of votes in the General Assembly. Their goal is to get enough support to one day win U.N. Security Council approval. Analysts say this is improbable because the United States does not support measures that Israel considers hostile.
The Israeli government says the decision by Brazil and others to recognize a Palestinian state hurts the peace process.
Yossi Beilin is an Israeli politician who was deeply involved Israel's negotiation of the Oslo accords in the 1990's. He doubts that achieving diplomatic recognition -- and words of support from nations with little influence in the Middle East -- will bring the Palestinians closer to having their own state.
"I understand their frustration, but I must admit that the solution is not a very serious one," Beilin said. "Unless there is a withdrawal of Israel from the West Bank there won't be a Palestinian state there. And, imagine that the whole world recognizes a state which doesn't exist? So what? Psychologically, it might help. Politically, it might enhance the current Palestinian leadership. But if you ask me whether this is an alternative, it is like saying, since you don't want to marry me, I will read a book."
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2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27