B’nai B’rith International commends the Canadian and Romanian governments for joining other nations in rejecting a Palestinian initiative to achieve unilaterally declared independence at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Both nations call for direct, bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and rejected the United Nations as a venue for promoting unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.

“The support of countries such as Canada and Romania as committed friends of Israel serves to increase a notable opposition to the Palestinian attempt to avoid direct negotiation,” B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs said. “Making an end-run around such negotiations can only damage the kind of meaningful progress that can come from Israelis and Palestinians coming to the table together to make peace a reality.”

The Canadian government is carefully monitoring the situation, and opposes talks of returning to pre-1967 borders. The Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he is committed to increasing the already strong relationship between Israel and Romania.

“A unilateral declaration is not a viable solution for lasting peace in the region,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “As more countries come to recognize the need for bilateral peace efforts, the Palestinian effort to circumvent direct negotiations will be further discredited.”