Lula dreams of creation of Palestinian state

Ramallah, Mar 17 (EFE).- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday concluded his visit to Israel and the West Bank by expressing his wish that a Palestinian state at peace with its neighbors soon becomes a reality.

"I dream of a free and independent state in Palestine living in peace in the Middle East," said the Brazilian leader on the last day of his visit to this Palestinian territory, where he traveled to the city of Ramallah after spending Tuesday night in Bethlehem.

"I think that Palestinians and Israelis are done with sharing the land of their forebears," he declared in a joint press conference with Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas where he asked that the construction of Jewish settlements on Palestinian soil be halted.

"The settlements must stop because the stability of the region is important for everyone," Lula said.

"I believe in the power of human beings, I believe that there is a positive climate, I believe in peace and that it will come to the region," he said, acknowledging that "there are some obstacles and problems," although he gave his assurance that "politicians will be capable of resolving them and Brazil will give its full support" to that effort.

He also asked Israel to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip and said that the wall the Israelis are building on the West Bank "must fall."

Abbas expressed the esteem he has for "a great country like Brazil, which has given us and will continue giving us support to establish peace and a Palestinian state."

Before meeting with Abbas, with whom he signed several bilateral cooperation accords, Lula on Wednesday morning inaugurated with Ramallah Mayor Janit Nijail a street that had been named "Brazil" to signify the ties of friendship between the two peoples.

The avenue runs by the grave of Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat, where Lula placed a floral offering.

In talks earlier this week with Israel's president, Shimon Peres, and prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Lula pushed for closer bilateral economic relations and expressed his hopes for the establishment of peace in the region.

The Brazilian leader will travel on Wednesday afternoon to neighboring Jordan.