Palestinian statehood

The vote clearly demonstrates the number of nations supporting Palestine, contrary to Israeli opinion.


Editorial November 30, 2012

Palestine has moved a step forward in its quest to gaining recognition as a separate, independent state. After a determined campaign by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the UN General Assembly approved a de facto recognition for a sovereign Palestinian state on November 29. The votes in favour of Palestine trumped the US and Israel opposition to a two-state solution to the Middle East’s longest-standing crisis. The recent eight days of Israeli raids on targets in Gaza also seemed to help the West Bank government in garnering favour, despite US and Israeli threats to withhold funds for the respective countries.

A total of 138 nations, including 12 European nations, voted for the Palestinian resolution. The increased support from Europe is significant; nine countries, led by the US and Israel, voted against the resolution while there were 41 abstentions with three nations not voting at all. The passage of the resolution means the Palestinian Authority’s UN observer status changes from “entity” to “non-member state”. This will also allow Palestine access to the International Criminal Court and some other international bodies.

While the change in status may, in real terms, mean little — as Washington and Tel Aviv have been emphasising — in symbolic terms it is important. The vote clearly demonstrates the number of nations supporting Palestine, contrary to Israeli opinion. The world, with a few exceptions, seems ready to acknowledge this and accept that some lasting solution needs to be found, in order to grant the Palestinians their rights. President Abbas deserves applause for bringing about this change in thinking through numerous talks and by doing so, moving his country closer to regaining a place on the map and becoming a nation whose people deserve the right to determine their own future. The UN decision marks an important point in this long struggle which till now has received far too little support from the rest of the world, mainly as a result of US pressure.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2012.

COMMENTS (14)

Dr V. C. Bhutani | 11 years ago | Reply

G. Din and Correction I came to this page after three days. I am amazed at the conversation that you have been having between you in these columns. I have enjoyed reading your dialogue. I shall not try to answer everything. Please let me make a few short submissions. I am an old man of 72. I have been a student of history and retired from a university some years ago. In the course of my study I formed certain ideas which I would like to share, if I may. We grow up in a family where we imbibe the values and influences of the family, especially the elders. In school we learn from our teachers and from co-students. In college we deepen our understanding of some subjects. At university we move towards specialization and in-depth study of matters. For a study of history one has to rise above the values and influences and prejudices and beliefs and faith - all of which are enemies of an intellectual pursuit. One is objective in direct proportion to the extent to which one is able to rise above those values, influences, prejudices, etc. One's study of history to be of value will have to try to achieve objectivity as far as humanly possible. We do not apply usages and values of one age to other ages. Every age has its own usages and values. It is unlikely that anyone today could set out on a career of world conquest like Alexander the Great. If someone did, he would probably provoke the hostility of much of the rest of the world. Nor do we need to criticize Alexander for his efforts at world conquest, whatever his actual achievement. In our own times (I have re-read the editorial above), the Palestinians are entitled to their State as much as Jews were. My view is that the Palestinians shall achieve their State in due time. It is not a question of if, but when. I do not seek to load my views on to others. I only state my views. It is for others to decide what they can accept and what they cannot accept. But if they disagree with me, I do not set out to pour on them invective and ridicule. As an outsider I am grateful to The Express Tribune for permitting me the hospitality of these columns. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, India, 6 Dec 2012, 1915 IST

Correction | 11 years ago | Reply

And also, if you had inferred anything from my post, it was that this issue was not merely about 'Muslims' and 'victors' (how does everything boil down to this for you? Then you wonder why I ask you to grow up) - I talked about the multi-religious nature of the Palestinian nation. I also discussed how it is not the 7th century and that standards set centuries ago cannot be applied to today's world. I also asked you how if you claimed that might is right, you seem to be so deeply troubled by Muslim invasions of India centuries ago?

Waiting on a response from Mr Bhutani. Was more than pleased to have a decent, enlightened, detached commentor for once, rather than an egotistical nationalist. Even if he disagrees with me, would love to engage him in a discussion that doesn't come down to Islam vs Hinduism vs India vs Pakistan...etc.

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