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U.S. Opposes Using the Term "State of Palestine"
(AP-ABC News) Mohammed Daraghmeh and Karin Laub - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wants official documents to carry a new emblem: "State of Palestine," but he is not rushing to change passports and ID cards Palestinians need to pass through Israeli crossings. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev dismissed the name change as pointless. "Instead of looking for gimmicks, Palestinians should negotiate with Israel to bring about the end of the conflict," he said. "That will lead to a situation of two states for two peoples." In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland expressed U.S. opposition to using the term "State of Palestine." "You can't create a state by rhetoric and with labels and names....You can only create a state, in this context, through bilateral negotiations," she said, calling Abbas' decision "provocative."