B’nai B’rith International praises members of the European Parliament for joining together to send a letter to Baroness Catherine Ashton, high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, urging rejection of a Palestinian initiative to achieve unilaterally declared independence at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The letter goes on to push for the 27 European Union member states to stand against such recognition.

The letter’s signatories call for direct, bilateral negotiations—affirming agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians as the only way to create lasting peace.

“The European Parliament members’ support of direct negotiation strengthens the argument against a unilateral declaration of independence by the Palestinians,” B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs said. “We are hopeful that the nations of the European Union and around the world will heed this call to deny this initiative.”

The letter also outlines the invalidity of a unilateral declaration in the United Nations, citing the Oslo Accords’ requirement of negotiation between the Israelis and the Palestinians to form the basis of a resolution on the statehood issue.

“It is encouraging that so many European countries have spoken out against a Palestinian unilateral declaration,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “European political figures are recognizing that unilateral declaration at the U.N. General Assembly can only hinder peace.”