PLO Sets Sept. 13 as Date for Statehood

Yasser Arafat’s government told Palestinians to prepare for statehood by Sept. 13, even as Israel insisted anew that independence must come only as part of a peace accord. The Palestinians’ chief policymaking body, the PLO’s Central Council, wrapped up talks in the Gaza Strip about the timing of a statehood declaration. The council declared its “determination” to declare independence by that time, and called on the world to recognize statehood when it is declared. Palestinians have said they have the right to declare statehood any time after Sept. 13, when a deadline for reaching a peace accord with Israel expires.