AJC Criticizes Costa
Rica Recognition of
Palestinian State
NEW YORK -
PRNewswire-USNewswire
via COMTEX/ - The
American Jewish
Committee is dismayed by
the decision of Costa
Rica to establish
diplomatic relations
with the "State of
Palestine."
"The timing of this
decision is both odd and
painful," said AJC
Executive Director David
A. Harris. "Odd because
there is not yet a
Palestinian state.
Painful because this
action comes less than
two years after
President Oscar Arias
moved his country's
embassy out of
Jerusalem, ending Costa
Rica's longstanding and
courageous example of
maintaining its embassy
in Israel's capital
city."
AJC supports efforts to
achieve a negotiated
two-state solution to
the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. However,
premature recognition of
a Palestinian state is
not normal diplomatic
practice, nor is it
helpful to the process.
"Given the fact that
Costa Rica has been a
shining light of
democracy in Latin
America, this action
against another stalwart
democracy, Israel, is
particularly shocking,"
said Harris.
AJC has visited San Jose
regularly over the years
for meetings with
government and Jewish
community leaders. The
main Jewish
organization, Centro
Zionista de Costa Rica,
is an AJC international
partner. |
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