Defying Israel, Arafat Vows Palestinian Statehood in ’99

The Palestinians will declare statehood in 1999 at the end of their five-year interim period of autonomy regardless of whether Israel agrees, Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat said Thursday.

Arafat’s remarks angered the Israelis, who say a unilateral declaration of independence would violate an understanding that neither side will do anything to prejudice the outcome of talks on a permanent peace agreement.

In such an accord, to be reached by May 1999, Israel and the Palestinians must agree on the nature of the emerging Palestinian entity, and it is widely believed that the pact will include provisions for Palestinian statehood in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The five-year autonomy period began in May 1994 with the start of limited Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza.

Talks on a permanent peace agreement have not yet begun because Israel and the Palestinians are still arguing over implementation of parts of the interim agreement.

For example, Israel has yet to fulfill the agreement to pull back troops in the West Bank in three stages, as promised earlier this year. Israel wants Arafat to make a bigger effort to rein in Islamic militants responsible for suicide bombings in Israel before it fulfills the pact.

Arafat said Thursday that he will bring his people statehood as promised, regardless of the status of the negotiations.

“I want to tell them that we will be able to implement what we promised our people,” Arafat said.

“The interim agreement is five years. Three years of it has passed, and we are waiting for the next two years to declare [statehood],” Arafat said. “At the end of the five years, our target will be to establish our independent state.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has staunchly opposed Palestinian statehood, saying he would approve Palestinian autonomy only in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with Israel remaining in charge of matters such as foreign affairs and external security.