Unilateralism? Where's the outcry from the French? I'm appalled:

Echoing Israeli announcements of unilateral plans, the Palestinian Authority on Friday threatened to unilaterally declare a "democratic" Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem.

The announcement was made following a meeting of the PLO Executive Committee and representatives of various Palestinian factions that was chaired by PA Chairman Yasser Arafat in his office in Ramallah.

The PA made a similar threat in September 2000 - the date fixed by the Oslo Accord to reach a final settlement - but backed off under Israeli and international pressure.

"The Palestinians have a right to establish a democratic state in all the territories conquered in 1967, and Jerusalem would be the capital of this state," the Palestinian leadership said in a statement.

The decision is seen as a response to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan for unilateral disengagement from the Palestinians. PA officials have expressed deep concern that Sharon's plan would leave the Palestinians with less than 50 percent of the West Bank and Gaza Strip land, rendering it impossible to fulfill their dream of establishing an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Read the whole thing. I have a question that I've yet seen answered. What will happen if the Palestinians are granted their own nation? A nation that would require leadership, infrastructure improvements, construction, education reform, disarmament, constructing a constitution, and the myriad other things that a government must do. How would the Palestinian leadership govern people who have been raised to hate and to use weapons to attain their ends? A government that would have Syria, Jordan, and Egypt constantly interfering. I think the battle for control will be bloody and long. Israel should just finish the wall and wash their hands of the Palestinians. Let's see how they survive when left to their own devices.