Palestinian flag flies in Washington

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- The Palestinian delegation has hoisted a flag at its Washington headquarters for the first time to push the quest for statehood, a Palestinian diplomat said.

Maen Areikat, Palestinian Liberation Organization chief of mission, said the move symbolizes the struggle of his people.

In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Areikat said it was time.

"This flag ... symbolizes the struggle of the Palestinian people for self-determination and statehood ...," he said of the action, which was OK'd by the U.S. State Department.

Areikat said the move indicates the willingness of the U.S. administration "to deal with realities on the ground," and shows it is serious about seeing a Palestinian state established, the newspaper said.

Not everyone welcomed the move, the English-language daily said Wednesday.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, House Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman, criticized the action.

"Raising this flag in D.C. is part of the Palestinian leadership's scheme to manipulate international acceptance and diplomatic recognition of a yet-to-be-created Palestinian state while refusing to directly negotiate with Israel or accept the existence of Israel as a democratic Jewish state," the statement said.