Robin Shepherd: First big step to unilateral Palestinian declaration of independence as Brazil formally recognises Palestinian state - 'Brazil, the leading power in Latin America, has formally recognised a Palestinian state on 1967 lines. News agencies reported that the announcement was made on the Brazilian foreign ministry's website. This is a matter of the profoundest significance since Palestinian leaders have been increasingly vocal in recent weeks and months in saying they will make a unilateral declaration of independence in the middle of 2011 and then seek recognition through the United Nations. Now that one of the most important emerging economies in the world -Brazil is one of the much vaunted BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) tipped by many to become a major world power in the 21st century -- has made such a move, the risk of an avalanche is very real. It needs to be understood why this is so dangerous, both to Israel and to the cause of peace...'