Bethlehem – Ma’an – More than 130 United Nations member states would recognize a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, Israeli international law expert Moshe Hersh told Israeli TV on Saturday evening.

According to Hersh, “Mahmoud Abbas can declare a Palestinian state nowadays because 100 countries will certainly support his decision, in addition to 30 others who are likely to vote for the decision.

“Furthermore, there will be European support, even though it will not be overwhelming. The US intends to oppose the Palestinian decision, yet the limited European support will be embarrassing to the US.”

“International organizations that have Palestinian membership will also support the decision,” Hersh added.

The expert explained that international recognition of a Palestinian state would help the Palestinians and at the same time embarrass Israel, which the world will see as an occupying force. He also highlighted that there are already Palestinian embassies in many countries, as well as foreign and Arab embassies and consulates in Ramallah, which cripple the Israelis diplomatically.

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom expressed a different point of view when he said, “Mahmoud Abbas was surprised when the world didn’t show any concern about his decision to resign. If he wants to quit, let him quit.”

With regard to the declaration of a state, Shalom said, “I advise them to avoid taking this decision which they took in 1988, and it brought them nothing. Everything should be resolved through negotiations.”