If only it were this simple.
A declaration of independence would allow the Palestinians to demarcate a state covering territory that best reflects minimal Palestinian requirements -- without having to negotiate those red lines. This is particularly important because the building of Israeli settlements has continued in Palestinian territories, encroaching on the lines drawn in the Road Map. These settlements were the very reason that Mahmoud Abbas decided to give up on what appears to be a useless peace process – one that gives more and more of the Palestinians’ land away. Unilaterally declaring his own lines may be the only choice remaining.Any such unilateral Palestinian action will also push the ball not only into the Israeli court, but into the court of Western countries, especially the United States and members of the European Union. These countries will be hard pressed to oppose a Palestinian declaration following years of failed negotiations by a moderate leader such as Abbas, who is so clearly committed to a nonviolent resolution to the conflict. Western powers would also find it difficult to refuse recognition of a state declared within the internationally recognized borders of June 4, 1967.
There's something to be said for the audacity of the plan. Declaring independence would force the issue back onto the Israelis and, ultimately, the United States. Both would then have to justify why Palestinians aren't able to exercise a right to self determination. But there's still a problem with the proposal; there's now two Palestines. While the Palestinian Authority has a better shot at success with declaring independence, Israel would still be left with the problem of Hamas in Gaza.
The proposal that Palestinian leaders could just declare independence from Israel and establish their own state seems elegant in it's simplicity but until the intra-Palestinian rifts are resolved, it wouldn't seem to have much chance of success.
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