More Calls For "Palestinian State" Without Israeli Agreement

The momentum continues to grow by the week. The concept of mandating a "Palestinian State" and carving up Israel's borders without their consent/agreement is receiving a lot of attention, and now we are hearing about this on a weekly basis.

As they say, "where there is smoke, there is fire". Today, yet again, we hear more regarding this proposal:

Erekat: PA will ask US to recognize state if talks fail

The Palestinian Authority plans to ask the US to recognize a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders in the event that "Netanyahu and the Israelis decide to choose settlements over peace," Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said in an interview with Army Radio aired on Monday.

"If the Americans can't do that," added Erekat, "we may turn to the UN Security Council."

Erekat stated that while the Security Council cannot legally declare a Palestinian state, its permanent members can call on other nations to individually recognize a Palestinian state.

The Palestinian negotiator said that a third option would be to turn to the UN General Assembly, which does have the authority to recognize a Palestinian state.

One has to wonder what is going on behind the scenes, as clearly these options are being discussed. It is hard to imagine that the UN would actually do something like this, but we have to always keep in mind that in these last days almost anything is possible, particularly involving Israel.

In other news:

Many flee Indonesia volcano amid fears of eruption

Frightened residents abandoned their homes in a bustling city of 400,000 at the foot of Indonesia's rumbling volcano Monday, cramming onto trains, buses and rented vehicles as authorities warned Mount Merapi could erupt again at any time.

A mass burial late Sunday for many of the 141 people killed in the last two weeks served as a reminder of the mountain's devastating power that culminated in its deadliest blast in 80 years, sending hot clouds of gas, rocks and debris avalanching down its slopes.

With the closest airport closed by ash, rail traffic leaving Yogyakarta has doubled in recent days, as residents - many of them students from the city's universities - tried desperately to get out.

Friday was the mountain's deadliest day since 1930, with nearly 100 lives lost.

Merapi was still issuing explosive roars Monday as it shot clouds of gas and debris up to 3,000 feet (1 kilometer) in the air as ash and pyroclastic flows poured down its slopes.

"Based on what we're seeing now, it could erupt again any time," said Surono, a state volcanologist.