Would anyone have ever thought the road to an independent Palestinian state might run through Sarajevo?
With efforts continuing in the Palestinian Authority to secure support for independence from Israeli occupation, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki today reports that the PA has eight members of the 15-member United Nations Security Council on the bandwagon for statehood. A successful vote would require a 60% majority, or nine yes votes.
With eight apparently committed yeses (Russia, China, India, South Africa, Brazil, Lebanon, Nigeria and Gabon), the focus is now on convincing Bosnia to provide that last vote, with a somewhat less hopeful path of convincing either Colombia or Portugal.
Malki is expected to visit Bosnia soon, while Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to visit both Colombia and Portugal in October. Bosnia, which itself only gained independence in 1992, is seen as most likely to be supportive.
This might be doubly so after the European Parliament today adopted a unanimous resolution supporting the right of the Palestinians to have an independent nation. Bosnia, though not yet an EU member, is currently pushing for membership.
The Obama Administration has promised to veto a UN Security Council vote, but it is hoped by PA officials that they would be too embarrassed to veto the resolution if it already has nine yes votes.
Never count on the Obama administration to be embarrassed by anything. If anything, you will be accused of terrorist malfeasance for embarrassing THEM and a drone will pay a visit.
Mr. Obama has my support on national issues, however on this grave problem and as a holder of the Nobel Peace Prize I strongly believe he could have done better than being an Israel and GOP puppet. His speech at the UN General Assembly was anything but convincing the same old rethoric on Israel zionist policy. Nothing new was brought to the negociating table where Mr. Sarkozy's speech went right to the point, urging both belligerents to seriously put their differences aside and go back to the Peace process. Both countries have to be monitored in what their can do or not do to each other, despite being adults they are old kids full of hate who have never grown out of their ancestral anger and have nothing inspiring to pass on to new generations although their both claim to pertain to the best religions on earth, dah???
The Netherlands voted against a Palestinian state. The Dutch foreign minister, who happens to be jewish and a dedicated zionist, also demanded last minute Palestinian statehood changes in UN Human RIghts Commission for the Middle East texts regarding the issue of . His wife is also an israeli citizen. The Netherlands is Israels closest ally in Europe.
http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/israels-best-fr…
"Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal, speaking at an international conference in Israel last year, doesn't beat around the bush:
“The Dutch government doesn't appreciate Israel bashing and Israel bashing shouldn't be acceptable to anyone. I believe that we can express our concerns and criticism more effectively by engaging in closer relations with Israel than by keeping Israel at a distance.""
A shame that Palestine can't get the 14 votes, thus showing DC to be also the victim, but in this case willingly, of israeli occupation.