PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki on Thursday backed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s plan to declare an independent Palestinian state on September 13, despite no conclusive settlement having been reached in Middle East peace talks. “I think it’s morally correct,” Mbeki said. Addressing a press conference after meeting Arafat, Mbeki said the OAU and the Non-aligned Movement had long supported the declaration of a Palestinian state. Arafat said he still hoped peace with Israel could be concluded by September 13, with the help of US president Bill Clinton. He “should really help us overcome the last two hurdles on the way to reach a settlement, that is our right to the holy Islamic and Christian places in Jerusalem, and ascertaining the right of Palestinian refugees to return or receive compensation,” Arafat said. He is due to leave SA on Thursday evening, after a meeting with former president Nelson Mandela. Mandela has consistently supported the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and statehood. During his presidency, Mandela presented Arafat with South Africa’s highest award, the Order of Good Hope. On Wednesday, Arafat returned home from a five-day Arab tour apparently stronger than ever, activating Arab support for the Palestinians’ position that east Jerusalem should be the capital of their future state. Arafat has won Arab backing for his stance at Camp David, where he held negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The talks broke down on July 25 in a dispute over control of east Jerusalem.