Whether there is an agreement in place or not, the Palestinian_ Authority intends to call upon the UN to vote this month on the establishment of a Palestinian state. They have a chair prepared for their seat in the UN embroidered with the words ‘Palestine’s Right’.
Using as a precedent, Israel’s unilateral declaration of statehood in May 1948, Palestine seeks to circumvent Israel’s demands for certain criteria to be set in place before a treaty can be established, most important of which are the recognition of the State of Israel, and the rejection of terrorism.
While a Security Council vote would be more binding, the PA will be pushing for a UN General Assembly vote on 20th September, as the United States would be likely to use their veto in the Security Council. Israel’s ambassador told the foreign ministry that Israel simply does not have the support to oppose the General Assembly resolution. The Palestinians have only to receive a 51 percent majority of the votes to receive the recognition they are seeking.
Throughout history there has never yet been a Palestinian State governed by Palestinians. Following the sacking of Jerusalem and the fall of her temple in AD70, by Rome; the Holy Land has been the habitation of various peoples, including Jews and Palestinians. They have lived in the region dominated by a number of external powers, among them the Romans, Byzantines, Sunni Arab Caliphate, the Crusaders and the British. The holocaust in World War II brought Zionism to the fore and Jews began to return to Israel.
A UN proclamation of a Palestinian State will not bring peace to the region, especially if there is no prior recognition of Israel’s right to exist. Israel and the United States have urged the Palestinian Authority to return to the negotiating table but all parties are aware that this will not happen. Jewish settlers are unlikely to accept imposed removal without a fight, and Palestinians will not settle for a state that does not include Jerusalem. The outcome will undoubtedly result in more bloodshed. When settlers moved out of Gaza in 2005, the result was an immediate increase in rocket fire into Israel. In anticipation of the obvious, Israeli security forces working in settlements are being issued with riot gear ahead of the 20th September debate.
Circumventing due process may bring some fleeting satisfaction to the Palestinians, but it will not bring peace. Once again the region is faced with imminent upheaval.
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