Abbas Ready to Accept US Statehood Veto
Promises continued cooperation, despite a looming US veto
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that he is prepared to accept the Obama administration’s expected veto of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations next month, saying he will “continue to cooperate with the Americans” even if that happens.
Palestinian leaders have said that more than 120 countries are supporting Palestinian recognition at the U.N. in September, but the measure may never come before the full U.N. body because it would likely have to be approved by the Security Council first, where aU.S. veto would derail it.
Despite explicit U.S. opposition to Palestine’s statehood bid and continued support for Israeli actions in the occupied territories, Abbas refused to write the Obama administration off, saying ““We don’t want to boycott Americans. At the same time, they will not boycott us.” He added “They help us, work with us.”
This kind of diplomacy lies in stark contrast to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s indignant reaction in May to Obama’s reiteration of the 1967 borders as a foundation for peace talks. Many were surprised as Netanyahu made headlines deriding Obama’s unsupportive stance, and others criticized him for “throwing Israel under the bus.”
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John_Muhammad
August 16th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
If the US won't help, don't be surprised if- when Palestine DOES gain independence- the US is locked out of all nation-building contracts. When Russian and Chinese companies are given military and infrastructure contracts, and ZERO US companies are allowed to do business it will be fitting and the US will know what it feels like to be thrown under the bus. Instead of constantly c*ck-blocking Palestinian progress, we should be actively encouraging it despite what Israel wants- just think of the ready-made market we would have for honest-to-goodness nation-building contracts. But, no, we're going to throw it all away, and for what? For Israel?
liveload
August 17th, 2011 at 8:44 am
Conflicts of interest alone should render the UNSC illegitimate as any kind of ruling body.
Avi of Mondoweiss
August 17th, 2011 at 11:58 am
Both Israel and the PA are dependent on the US for financial support.
The difference is that the PA gets some measly 300 million dollars while Israel gets several billion dollars.
The difference is that Israel can thumb its nose at the US thanks to the Israel Lobby, while the PA must snivel to stay on good terms with the US.
The difference is that Netanyahu gets his salary from various sources, including Zionist benefactors from all over the world, while Abbas gets his salary directly from Washington.
That's the difference.
Ian Campbell
August 17th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
I find Abbass' attitude pathetic. He claims to be standing up for his people but he's fine with an American veto. This guy must have been bought off. How could this be acceptable to the Palestinian public?
thedissenter
August 17th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Abbas is the best lapdog that Israel and the US could ever buy. And cheap to boot.
thedissenter
August 17th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
The Palestinians should have their heads examined if they allow the US in. Anyway, if/when that happens for them, the US as we know it will be long. And that will help Palestinians attain their independence.
Reality
August 24th, 2011 at 10:40 am
Gaza and the West Bank are legally Israel's anyway. "Palestinians" are really Egyptian or Jordanian. Besides, Hamas, Fatah, PLO, PRC, etc are terrorist organisations. A country does not belong in the hands of terrorists. According to Oslo Accords, Israel maintains primary control over Gaza and the West Bank until a bilateral agreement can be reached. The PA is supposed to keep terrorist organizations out of "Palestine", and they have not. And, if "Palestine" is recognized as a country, the Oslo Accords are nullified, which means that Israel can take back all their land and wouldn't have to come to any agreement with them. As it is, Israel has been dealing quite gracefully with the terrorists in even letting them stay in West Bank and Gaza. Jordan kicked PLO out for trying to take over the government. And yet, Israel is nice enough to try to work with them while trying to protect Israelis at the same time. But, instead of being peaceful, "Palestinians" engage in psychological warfare to turn the world against Israel. They attack Israel, Israel uses self defense, and then the "Palestinians" cry foul play and play victim. They are forever trying to re-write history (Holocaust denial, claiming the Jewish temples never existed on Temple Mount, claiming the land has no Jewish ties, etc) so that it favors them. All of the Middle East wants to see Israel completely destroyed and will stop at nothing to get it done. A 2 state solution won't solve anything; it will only perpetuate the war and be used as a battle ground. The only way for there to be peace in the Middle East is for the Muslims to give up their weapons, but then they would probably still resort to stoning and other mideival methods of fighting. If Israel has to keep making concessions to the terrorists, the Israelis will be completely destroyed.
dink
September 1st, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Wrong. But hey, the US should quit playing favorites. Be neutral to Israel. If Israel wants to be a ultra right wing bastion, let it get its own just deserts. AIPAC are agents of a foreign governent, and should be treated as such.
We don't need to occupy Iraq, and Afghanistan. We need to get to the business of the United States
Yonatan
September 19th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
Your message isn't very clear. You need to keep drinking the hasbara juice.