Palestine to open embassy in Brazil

President Mahmoud Abbas lays cornerstone in Brasilia on land for the Palestinians' first embassy in western hemisphere.

Brazil became the first country in the western hemisphere to lay plans for a Palestinian embassy

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, has laid the cornerstone for an embassy in Brazil - what will be the first such Palestinian delegation in the western hemisphere.A ceremony was held on Friday to initiate the building's construction in Brasilia, the capital, and Abbas thanked Brazil for recognising his naiton's statehood, adding that other countries were following suit.
"We thank Brazil for its support in the construction of a Palestine state. This is a favour we will never forget," Abbas said.
Brazil was the first of several South American countries in recent weeks to recognise a Palestinian state along pre-1967 borders.

'Seriously harmful'

Since then Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Ecuador have done the same. Chile, Mexico, Peru and Nicaragua are said to be considering recognition.
Israel says the moves are "seriously harmful" to the Middle East peace process and Washington has called them "premature".
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