UN implicitly recognises Palestinian state, as US, Israel lament vote

US, Israel opposed Palestinian push for 'state' status, more than dozen European states support Palestinians.


Reuters November 29, 2012

UNITED NATIONS: The 193-nation UN General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a de facto recognition a sovereign Palestinian state after Palestine president Mahmoud Abbas called on the world body to issue its long overdue "birth certificate".

The vote, which was preceded by threats from the US and Israel to withhold funds for the West Bank government, returned an overwhelming figure of 138 for, and nine against. There were 41 abstentions. Three countries though abstained from voting.

The resolution changes the Palestinian Authority's UN observer status from "entity" to "non-member state," like the Vatican.

Israel, the United States and a handful of other members voted against what they see as a largely symbolic and counterproductive move by the Palestinians, which takes place on the 65th anniversary of the assembly's adoption of resolution 181 on the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has lead the campaign to win support for the resolution, was backed by over a dozen European governments after an eight-day conflict this month between Israel and groups in the Gaza Strip.

The US State Department said on Wednesday that Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns and US Middle East peace envoy David Hale travelled to New York on Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to get Abbas to reconsider.

The Palestinians though were in no mood of turning back.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton repeated to reporters in Washington on Wednesday the US view that the Palestinian vote was "unfortunate and counterproductive".

"The path to a two-state solution that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people is through Jerusalem and Ramallah, not New York," she said. "The only way to get a lasting solution is to commence direct negotiations."

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland reiterated US warnings that the move could cause a reduction of US economic support for the Palestinians. The Israelis have also warned they might take significant deductions out of monthly transfers of duties that Israel collects on the Palestinians' behalf.

Despite its fierce opposition, Israel seems concerned not to find itself diplomatically isolated. It has recently toned down threats of retaliation in the face of wide international support for the initiative, notably among its European allies.

"The decision at the United Nations will change nothing on the ground," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in Jerusalem. "It will not advance the establishment of a Palestinian state. It will delay it further."

'Slap in the face'

The title of "non-member observer state" falls short of full UN membership - something the Palestinians failed to achieve last year. But it would allow them access to the International Criminal Court and some other international bodies, should they choose to join them.

Hanan Ashrawi, a top Palestine Liberation Organisation official, told a news conference in Ramallah that "the Palestinians can't be blackmailed all the time with money."

"If Israel wants to destabilise the whole region, it can," she said. "We are talking to the Arab world about their support, if Israel responds with financial measures, and the EU has indicated they will not stop their support to us."

Peace talks have been stalled for two years, mainly over the issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which have expanded despite being deemed illegal by most of the world.

In the draft resolution, the Palestinians have pledged to relaunch the peace process immediately following the UN vote.

As there was little doubt about how the United States will vote when the Palestinian resolution to upgrade its UN status was put to a vote, the Palestinian Authority instead has been concentrating its efforts on lobbying wealthy European states, diplomats say.

With strong support from the developing world that makes up the majority of UN members, the resolution is virtually assured of securing more than the requisite simple majority. Palestine got 138 favourable votes in contrast hopes for more than 130 yes votes.

Abbas has been trying to amass as many European votes in favour as possible.

Austria, Denmark, Norway, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland had all pledged to support the Palestinian resolution. Britain had said it was prepared to vote yes, but only if the Palestinians fulfilled certain conditions, in the end, it chose to abstain.

Diplomats said the Czech Republic was expected to vote against the move, potentially dashing European hopes to avoid a three-way split in the vote. Germany and the Netherlands abstained, like Estonia and Lithuania.

Ashrawi said the positive responses from European states were encouraging and sent a message of hope to all Palestinians.

"This constitutes a historical turning point and opportunity for the world to rectify a grave historical injustice that the Palestinians have undergone since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948," she said.

A strong backing from European nations could make it awkward for Israel to implement harsh retaliatory measures. But Israel's reaction might not be so measured if the Palestinians seek ICC action against Israel on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity or other crimes the court would have jurisdiction over.

Israel also seems wary of weakening the Western-backed Abbas, especially after the political boost rival Hamas received from recent solidarity visits to Gaza by top officials from Egypt, Qatar and Tunisia.

Hamas, who controls Gaza and has had icy relations with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, unexpectedly offered Abbas their support this week.

One Western diplomat said the Palestinian move was almost an insult to recently re-elected US President Barack Obama.

"It's not the best way to convince Obama to have a more positive approach toward the peace process," said the diplomat, who was planning to vote for the resolution. "Three weeks after his election, it's basically a slap in the face."

COMMENTS (13)

cautious | 11 years ago | Reply

Congrats - moved up to the same status as the Vatican - of course we know who runs the Vatican - not sure who's running Palestine.

KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ | 11 years ago | Reply In historic move UNO General Assembly overwhelming voted in favor of Philistine authority as a non observer state according to 1967 borders with Israel in UNO General Assembly. Now it seem true that like middle east Israel and its close friend United States are also going alone in other forums like UNO. After recent victory in Gaza recent victory in UNO General Assembly is also big won for Philistine people. Although three permanent of security council France, Russia, China and other countries voted in favor of Philistine bid for independent observer state in United Nations but Philistine authority recent move strongly opposed by US, Israel and its close allies. Israel fears that after getting status of Independent observer states philistine can challenge Israel’s war crimes in International criminal court. US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister urged Philistine authority to instead of going to UNO and seeking status for independent state, start dialogue with Israelis and solve crises through negotiations. True reality is that despite long negotiations and several road peace maps presented by US authorities including President Obama last forty five years Philistine people get nothing except deaths destructions and long siege of Gaza. Despite serious reservations of world community and US itself Israelis illegal constructions are still going on. Things are going bad to worse after Israeli continues air strikes at Gaza and other places. Killing of innocent women and children by using F16s, Drones, and Guided missiles has become big challenge for conscience for modern world. After miserable role of US and Israel and world community Philistine authority had rightly decided to go to UNO and get status of independent status through UNO General Assembly. At the time when East Timor and northern Sudan get status of dependent state through UNO resolutions why Philistine people can’t do like this.
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