Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad gave an interview to The Washington Post Thursday, before Hosni Mubarak stepped down as Egypt's president, in which he discussed what regime change in Egypt would mean for Palestinians and the Arab world, and his plans for the creation of a Palestinian state.
Acknowledging that Egypt under Mubarak has been among the strongest backers of the PA, Fayyad hinted that his government would be better suited in a friendship with a democratic government in Cairo. "You can't have a sustainable relationship between two parties where one party runs its government based on values and principles that are totally at odds with the values and norms of the other ally," he said.
"The Egyptian people are very supportive of the Palestinian people," Fayyad responded when asked if he was worried about losing the strong support provided by the Mubarak government. "Why would I presume that Egypt in the aftermath of this movement is going to be any less supportive?"
Addressing a question being asked in the West - whether Egypt is ready for democracy, and if it should perhaps be introduced in stages, Fayyad retorted that "there is no such thing." "There is this implication that Arabs are not mature enough for democracy," adding that such an attitude is "too patronizing."
Fayyad deflected a question as to whether he plans on bringing a resolution calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state before the United Nations, He said that Palestinians "are preoccupied with getting the structure of a functioning state."
On the question of whether he thinks he can gather enough votes to support such a measure, the PA prime minister said that he doesn't "know of any country that is prepared to say they oppose the creation of the Palestinian state."
"The idea is for the reality of the state to just be there in a manner that cannot be overlooked by anyone," he added.
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