Palestine recognized by UN

[Huntsman]

The United Nations voted overwhelmingly today to recognize a Palestinian state, a long-sought victory for the Palestinians but an embarrassing diplomatic defeat for the United States.

The resolution upgrading the Palestinians’ status to a nonmember observer state at the United Nations was approved by a more than two-thirds majority of the 193-member world body — a vote of 138-9, with 41 abstentions.

A Palestinian flag was quickly unfurled on the floor of the General Assembly, behind the Palestinian delegation. Jubilant Palestinians who crowded around outdoor screens and television sets to watch the vote hugged, honked and set off fireworks in celebration.

Real independence, however, remains an elusive dream until the Palestinians negotiate a peace deal with the Israelis, who warned that the General Assembly action will only delay a lasting solution. Israel still controls the West Bank, east Jerusalem and access to Gaza, and it accused the Palestinians of bypassing negotiations with the campaign to upgrade their U.N. status.

The United States immediately criticized the historic vote. “Today’s unfortunate and counterproductive resolution places further obstacles in the path of peace,” U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice said.

And U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called the vote “unfortunate” and “counterproductive.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the General Assembly shortly before the vote “defamatory and venomous,” saying it was “full of mendacious propaganda” against Israel.

Abbas had told the General Assembly that it was “being asked today to issue the birth certificate of Palestine.” Abbas said the vote was the last chance to save the two-state solution.

Second vote for Palestine

After the vote, Netanyahu said the U.N. move violated past agreements between Israel and the Palestinians and that Israel would act accordingly, without elaborating what steps it might take.

Just before the vote, Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Ron Prosor, warned the General Assembly that “the Palestinians are turning their backs on peace” and that the U.N. can’t break the 4,000-year-old bond between the people of Israel and the land of Israel.

The vote had been certain to succeed, with most of the member states sympathetic to the Palestinians. Several key countries, including France, this week announced they would support the move to elevate the Palestinians from the status of U.N. observer to nonmember observer state.

Today’s vote came on the same day, Nov. 29, that the U.N. General Assembly in 1947 voted to recognize a state in Palestine, with the jubilant revelers then Jews. The Palestinians rejected that partition plan, and decades of tension and violence have followed.

Vote secures support

The vote grants Abbas an overwhelming international endorsement for his key position: establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, the territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. With Netanyahu opposed to a pullback to the 1967 lines, this should strengthen Abbas’ hand if peace talks resume.

The overwhelming vote also could help Abbas restore some of his standing, which has been eroded by years of standstill in peace efforts. His rival, Hamas, deeply entrenched in Gaza, has seen its popularity rise after an Israeli offensive on targets linked to the Islamic militant group there earlier this month.

Israel has stepped back from initial threats of harsh retaliation for the Palestinians seeking U.N. recognition, but government officials warned that Israel would respond to any Palestinian attempts to use the upgraded status to confront Israel in international bodies.

The Palestinians now can gain access to U.N. agencies and international bodies, most significantly the International Criminal Court, which could become a springboard for going after Israel for alleged war crimes or its ongoing settlement building on war-won land.

However, in the run-up to the U.N. vote, Abbas signaled that he wants recognition to give him leverage in future talks with Israel, and not as a tool for confronting or delegitimizing Israel, as Israeli leaders have alleged.

There were 40 nations neutral, Lithuania being one of them, and nine nations objecting, Israel and US being few of them in the voting.

[PulseEffect]

The United States immediately criticized the historic vote. “Today’s unfortunate and counterproductive resolution places further obstacles in the path of peace,” U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice said.

And U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called the vote “unfortunate” and “counterproductive.”

Have to agree here.

[Mikal]

The US just needs to keep their nose out of others business.. :poke:

[Antonio.]

Congratulations to the Palestinians.

[Alsatian]

Have to agree here.

And why would that be?

[Gandalf]

Lets make clear that Palestine has not gotten full recognition.
It has been given a special status as observer, which only the Vatican has.
While this may free the road to be member of other UN organizations, it is not a full recognition.

[Ratko Gavrilovic]

The US just needs to keep their nose out of others business.

[Aksel]

This is lovely, and hopefully a start of something much, much better.

But lets be realistic. The fact that Palestine has received permission to send observants to the UN does not mean the occupation and the constant block of humanitarian needs will stop. Israel will keep occupying Palestinian land until they receive sanctions from the UN. Hopefully, Palestine will be able to report Israel to the court in Haag.

In Norway, all political parties, representatives, politicians and the delegates received an E-mail saying that we shouldn't use the name "Palestinian territories" anymore, but "Palestine". I love it.

I am positive to a two-state sollution, as I don't see it realistic to remove Israel from the map. Hopefully there will be peace. Insha'allah.

[Huntsman]

I told you guys long time already - US and Israel are sleeping in the same bed. Israel - US war machine in the middle-east. Enough said.

[Petarda]

The US just needs to keep their nose out of others business.. :poke:

I bet this is one of their tricks like they always do it.Protects some country in their interest

[Nathan]

I am positive to a two-state sollution, as I don't see it realistic to remove Israel from the map. Hopefully there will be peace. Insha'allah.

Two-state solution would be good, but is just temporary until one side decides to start a war again.

[JDC]

I also support a two-state solution. It is a stepping stone to eventual peace between the two peoples, and any attempts to steer off that course are bound to be caused by greed.

[Mikal]

I bet this is one of their tricks like they always do it.Protects some country in their interest

It is, the country's the US usualy go against are the ones that have nothing of interest to them, if they seek a powerful allied, they make allies with a powerful country, if they seek oil, they suck up to said country with oil. Corrupt world eh?

And an example of this is the Falklands, the Falklands have always been a British island, and it remains a British island because of the British people that live there, they don't want the Falklands to be given to Argentina because it's been their home their whole lives, however, when Britain discovered oil in the Falklands, the US was instantly saying that the UK should give the Falklands to Argentina, and this argument still continues, the reason the US would like the UK to give the Falklands to Argentina is because then the US could make a deal with Argentina to get at the oil.

Just the closest example I could think of. :poke:

[Radagast]

Seems the problem is always the US. Why don't we just all invade them? :poke:

[Mikal]

Seems the problem is always the US. Why don't we just all invade them? :poke:

Won't be long before Russia and China do.