'Palestinians' to push for 'statehood' again?
Jonathan Schanzer reports that the 'Palestinians' may be gearing up for another run at 'statehood' at the United Nations in September.Behind the scenes, the Palestinians have even tried to lay a foundation for the coming showdown in September. Hillary Zaken of the Times of Israel first reported that Abbas was angling to use the U.N.'s Rio+20 conference on sustainable development, held June 20 to 22 in Brazil, "to advance the PA's status in the eyes of the international community." Indeed, Abbas wanted Palestine to be identified as nothing less than a state at the conference, despite the fact that the U.N. had not yet done so. The Palestinian ambassador to Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben, later admitted that he was angling for "full-status participation," while Israel, the United States, and Canada were reportedly fighting this on the sidelines, and apparently prevailed.Here's my bet: If God forbid Obama wins, there will be a 'Palestinian state' - or at least full US support for one - almost immediately. You can look for all parties to drag out the approval vote if it looks like there's a good chance that Obama will be reelected.
Similarly, in early June, the same three countries cried foul when Palestinian U.N. observer Riyad Mansour was treated as a representative of a state during a meeting of signatories to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. As the U.N.'s online summary account notes, the Canadian delegation protested where the Palestinian observer was seated, noting that it "did not recognize a Palestinian State" and that the seating arrangement "might create a 'misleading impression.'"
The Palestinians, notwithstanding such resistance from the Great White North, actually have broad international support for their initiative. The PLO's Negotiations Affairs Department claims that 128 countries back the notion of a Palestinian state, and the number could be as high as 140. Either way, this is enough support at the General Assembly, in the words of Abbas during a recent trip to Paris, "to obtain the status of nonmember state, as is the case for the Vatican."
But Abbas will need to weigh this international support against the wall of resistance he's getting from Washington. In an interview with the Saudi Okaz newspaper, Erekat said that U.S. President Barack Obama's administration was threatening to suspend aid and close down the PLO mission in Washington if the Palestinians returned to the U.N.
Obama cannot afford to stand back and watch the Palestinians play for statehood as he campaigns for his reelection. If the Palestinians make it across the finish line at the General Assembly, Obama's domestic critics will charge that he threw Israel under the bus.
...
Abbas, now 77, smokes more than a pack of cigarettes a day, and he is keenly aware of the passing of time. He has failed to deliver peace. He has failed to deliver unity. Statehood may be his last opportunity to leave any meaningful legacy.
September may be his moment. Again. But it may also be the moment where Washington blocks him. Again.
If Obama loses, he will cut a deal with which he will try to stick his successor (presumably Romney) along the lines of the US committing to support a 'Palestinian state' bid in 2013 if the 'Palestinians' and Israel do not reach an agreement on one by then.
What could go wrong?
Read the whole thing.
Labels: Abu Mazen, Barack Hussein Obama, Campaign 2012, Palestinian state RIGHT NOW syndrome
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:39 PM
3 Comments:
Carl,
God Willing, Obama will win and Palestine will not get statehood (unless it sits with Israel and negotiates). Abbas will be end his career in utter failure.
Thanks for sharing some useful links.
Cheers
Since there is not a single person on the planet who cares how or if such a state would function, then Israel must, as a statement of policy announce that this Arab state would of course be 100% completely cut off from all dealings, infrastructure, services, etc from Israel. No water sewer power gas electric phone, services, trash pick up, mail, tariffs, taxes. Abbas of course is free to pursue a foreign policy with any of his neighbors and Hamas, likewise. And that should include the very very high probability of being a permanent near 100% welfare state of the EU. It's a marriage made in heaven. The Arabs become a quasi protectorate of the EU fully dependent for nearly every Euro, Dollar, Shekel and Pound and the EU and UN can do whatever it is assuage their post colonial white guilt. Heck, I'd be the first one lobbying for these new Arab statelets to be fast pathed ahead of everyone else, to full EU membership. I would like to see Hamas and PFLP flood into EU states which are, as we know, 'occupying' the Ummah. The Eurozone is essentially dead but the cradle to grave multiculti welfare state that give birth to it lives on forever. I think it's a plan forward that could work. In exchange for all their money and management, the Arabs can export, sharia, genocidal intolerance, rockets, rape and mass murder to the EU. It's a win win all around.
Hi Carl.
I completely agree with your prediction of the events in case of Obama being re-elected.
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