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Jerusalem Scrambles as European States Move to Upgrade Ties with Palestinians
(Ha'aretz) Barak Ravid - After reports that the PA is trying to persuade EU states to upgrade its diplomatic status, the Israel Foreign Ministry on Monday ordered Israeli envoys abroad to begin "urgent" diplomatic activity. The aim is to thwart Palestinian efforts at drafting a UN resolution that would recognize a unilateral declaration of statehood and put international pressure on Israel to halt settlement construction. Israeli officials expect Ecuador to shortly announce it is joining Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia in recognizing a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon called his counterparts in Mexico and Chile to ask them not to make a similar move. He also asked senior officials in the Obama Administration to support Israel's stance in Central and South America. In Europe, the issue involves upgrading the PA's diplomatic status. Spain and France have already taken this step, and the Israeli assessment is that Britain, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Malta, Luxembourg, and Austria are considering a similar move.