WEST BANK: Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme visits Palestinian counterpart Salam Fayyad and tours the West Bank

Record ID: 566381

  • Title: WEST BANK: Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme visits Palestinian counterpart Salam Fayyad and tours the West Bank
  • Date: 7th September 2011
  • Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (SEPTEMBER 5, 2011) (REUTERS) CONVOY CARRYING PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD ARRIVING AT LOOKOUT TO OBSERVER JEWISH SETTLEMENTS VIEW OF DIRT ROAD IN WEST BANK VARIOUS OF FAYYAD GETTING OUT OF CAR CONVOY CARRYING BELGIAN PRIME MINISTER YVES LETERME ARRIVING FAYYAD GREETING LETERME CAMERAMAN FAYYAD AND LETERME DURING TOUR SECURITY PERSONNEL FAYYAD AND LETERME TALKING SETTLEMENT HOMES BUILT ON HILL FAYYAD HOLDING MAP FAYYAD POINT AT MAP VIEW OF SETTLEMENT HOMES IN OCCUPIED WEST BANK
  • Embargoed: 22nd September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB1E880AHCK7Z7KAPCX4YFMDPB
  • Story Text: Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme on Monday (September 5) toured the West Bank city of Ramallah with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
    Fayyad took Leterme to an area overlooking Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
    There are around 500,000 settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, some of who are armed. A U.N. agency which documents violence says settler-related incidents resulting in injuries to Palestinians and their property have increased this year.
    With the U.S.-backed peace process at a standstill, the Palestinians are heading to the U.N. General Assembly in New York with the aim of securing an upgrade to their current status as just an observer entity.
    The Palestinians say the step is an attempt to strengthen their position before any resumption of peace talks aimed at securing their independence in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
    Israel, which captured that land in 1967, sees the U.N. move as an attempt to undermine its own legitimacy. The United States, its closest ally, is opposed to the initiative, saying only bilateral talks can resolve the decades-old conflict.
    Palestinian officials have said they will apply for full U.N. membership for Palestine -- a move diplomats say will draw a U.S. veto in the Security Council and strain ties with Washington, a major donor to the aid-dependent PA.
    But Leterme, on an official two-day visit to the region, said the only way to peace is through negotiations.
    About 140 countries have recognised the state of Palestine to date.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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