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Over 170,000 Views for YouTube Video "The Truth about the West Bank"
(Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs) A new video featuring Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon, who explains where the terms "West Bank," "occupied territories" and "67 borders" originated and how they are incorrectly used and applied, has already been viewed by over 170,000 worldwide. "For too many years, our public diplomacy has been mainly based on a 'peace narrative,' where Israeli officials talk about how much we are willing to concede for peace," Ayalon said. "While we do all we can do promote peace, it is time for Israel to return to a 'rights-based diplomacy' and talk about the facts, rights, history and international law which are little known but give a dramatically different viewpoint to what is currently accepted." Chief Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erakat claimed in an official PA press release that Israel was accepted to the UN on the basis of UN General Assembly Resolution 181. Ayalon responded: "This false claim shows that Erekat misconstrues international law and its system, proving exactly how misguided the Palestinian attempt to have their unilaterally declared state recognized at the UN really is. Israel was admitted as a full UN member in 1949 by UN General Assembly Resolution 273, after a recommendation by the Security Council, because it met the criteria of statehood and signed armistice agreements with our neighbors, something the Palestinians should bear in mind before they further their confrontational and damaging plan towards September." "I challenge any of the Palestinian Authority political leadership to an open debate on all the issues ahead of September," Ayalon added.