The Palestinians will submit their request for full statehood membership at the United Nations on September 23, according to Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki. The vote will be put to the UN Security Council and subject to US veto.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will personally submit the request to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after addressing the General Assembly on the afternoon of Sept. 23. That same day, Netanyahu announced he will be addressing the General Assembly as well.
The impending US veto will starkly display the skewed American stance on Israel-Palestine as never before. The Obama administration has come up with no substantive objection to the Palestinians’ right to seek statehood at the UN beyond that it is an alternative route from the failed peace talks.
Palestinian recognition at the UN presents such a threat to Israel because Palestinian statehood may facilitate criminal prosecutions against the state of Israel for its treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Statements that Israel is in violation of the law with respect to their policies towards Palestine, like the one this week which deemed the naval blockade on Gaza illegal, will have greater force of law behind them if Palestine becomes a state.
On the one hand, the administration will feel domestic pressure from a pro-Israel Congress to veto the resolution. On the other hand, the administration understands that key allies will be lost if they veto and that it will be their most blatant denial yet of basic rights for Palestinians and Arab Muslims in general. The resolution currently the support of overwhelming majorities in the Middle East and around the world.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to be all over the news sources that day, with popcorn in hand and just waiting for the USG to raise the Threat Level to ONE ZILLION immediately following a US veto.
What's that old Creedence Clearwater Revival song, "Bad Moon Rising"? INCOMING !!
get ready for operation cast lead 2 starting some time on September 22
I'm real glad I'm not a US diplomat serving in a Muslim country just now. Probably gonna get interesting, esp in Jordan, Egypt, Tunis, and Pakistan. But what the heck, the desires of israel's supporters in this country are far more important than the interests of the US as a whole or the safety of our Foreign Service personel. On the plus side, a US veto of a Palestinian State will probably hurry our military's departure from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan.
I refer readersto Joseph Hassad’s very sensible article in Aljazeera to-day. Either way Israel will win. He argues that regardless of what happens with the Palestinian statehood vote in the UN Israel will benefit.
The two state solution implies recognition of the Israel and Palestinians wil thereby forfeit their UN recognized rigth of return (Res 194). Palestinians should consequently pursue a ONE state option; equal rights for both Israelis and Palestinians in historic Palestine.
At some point the Palestinians have to accept that right-of-return is a pipe dream.
12 million Germans expelled in 1945 didn't go home, neither did 10 million Hindus in 1948, over 1 million Bosnians in 1992, 300,000 Serbs in 1995 etc.
What separates the Palestinians is the fact that their Arab "brothers" never resettled them, fearing that such a move would be tacit acceptance of Israel's existence. They need to give it up and focus on a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.
For the first time since WWII, the US has an extraordinary chance to have a positive impact on the international affairs by supporting Palestinian bid for statehood. This one single vote could, almost overnight, erase decades of injustice served Palestinians by previous administrations; it could instantly rebuild trust and respect of the Middle East. This act of fairness could bring Iraq and Afghanistan wars to quick and more civilized conclusion avoiding further deaths of thousands.
I am afraid, however, that instead of a honorable fairness toward millions in the Middle East, the USG will choose to support arrogant and dehumanizing demands of the oppressor.
Am I wrong? I truly hope I am.
I agree that the US's image would improve in the middle east on a positive vote but think that your assumption of the reasons for the US being in the middle east are misguided. I believe that the reason the US is engaging in adventurism in the middle east is primarily due to the desire to control natural resources – be it oil, natural gas, or minerals. The securing of energy resources, as has been admitted by the Pentagon in several studies, has been determined to be a critical requirement for the survival of the US in the years to come. If so, then there would be no reason to assume that the presence if US forces in Afghanistan or Iraq would end on a recognition of Palestine as a state. It's a nice thought, though.
It goes without question that the natural resources are the only reason that western powers became "interested" in the Middle East decades ago. But perhaps mending some fences would bring some will for both sides (so called "royal" families excluded) to share resources in non-violent way. It's a fantasy, I realize… but perhaps after decades of non-productive bulling and brutal force, something better could be achieved by fairness and kindness. That has never been tried in the Middle East…at least not in more than a century..
I hope with all my heart that Palistine gets there state hood.Even if America uses there veto power they will still get it well America is made to look and be Israely only friends in the world.Eather way in the end it will work out for the Palistinians.Its the only option left after years of trying it Americas and Israels way that only lead to more land stolen and more Israely crimes.
Americans are flipping out – because their Israeli masters snapped their fingers? LMAO, what 'threat' to the USA could possibly arise from a small group of Palestinians gaining some minor form of recognition at the UN? The fear is that some war criminals might be held responsible for their actions? The horror! Of course, the 'horror' comes from the same torture-loving fascists that cheered on the Bush regime, war crimes and all – and we all know how they feel about being brought to justice.
This is when we get to see (again) who really runs US policy in the Middle East.
Blind support for the Israeli settlers and their theft of Palestinian land is by any measure contrary to US national interests (and Israeli interests as well).
Hatred will increase, terror threats will increase, and America's standing in the world will take a massive hit. And for what? So that some Jewish lunatics can claim their "living space"?
What, exactly, do we get out of this?
Timing is everything:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=…
We shall see the US hypocrisy in action Big Time here. They can veto as Security Council but the UN vote is just 1 for each nation. Last count there are 169 for and probably less than 10 against.
Unless the US or Israel staged a big False Flag event tomorrow or tonight and paste the blame on the Palestinians, this will move ahead as planned. What happened next after the vote would be interesting to watch as tension builds there. Let us hope Russia and China issue a stern warning of behaving in this vote. Even let that warning be controversial to deflect any sinister plans that might have been in place.