The Palestinians on Monday hailed a European Union foreign ministers' statement that condemned Israeli settlement construction in the Palestinian territories, dpa reported.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told reporters that the EU statement issued in Brussels earlier on Monday "is an advanced stance, which considers the Israeli annexation of any part of the occupied Palestinian land illegal."
The final statement of the 27 EU foreign ministers expressed regret after the Israeli government refused to extend a 10-month moratorium on freezing settlement construction. The moratorium ended September 26.
Earlier on Monday, Erekat revealed that he had sent a letter to EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton urging the EU to recognize a declaration of an independent state on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.
The EU decided to recognize a declaration of a Palestinian state "when appropriate", as such a move might obstruct the ongoing efforts to resume the stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Erekat said that the EU and the world will soon recognize an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital.
Last week, Brazil and Argentina declared their readiness to recognize the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The move was welcomed by the Palestinians, but condemned by Israel and the United States.
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