- As Palestinian legal advisor in 1987, Law Professor Francis
Boyle drafted its Declaration of Independence, creating a Palestinian state.
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- Palestinians now want and deserve official recognition
and full de jure UN membership. Washington and Israel remain obstructionist.
-
- Doing so further isolates both countries. Globally, Obama
and Netanyahu are laughing stocks, more caricatures than leaders.
-
- Their contempt for rule of law principles, democratic
values, and equal justice is palpable.
-
- On the Progressive Radio News Hour to air October 2,
Boyle said 170 nations support Palestinian UN membership, according to
the Financial Times.
-
- If all 193 nations vote, only 129 are needed to admit
Palestine as the UN's 194th member. According to Boyle, it's achievable
by mid-October if Abbas follows proper procedures.
-
- Nonetheless, diplomatic roulette continues. On September
23, Abbas petitioned the Security Council for membership.
-
- It recommends new members. Only the General Assembly
admits them by a simple two-thirds majority of voting member states minus
those abstaining.
-
- Moreover, the 1950 Uniting for Peace Resolution 377 empowers
the GA to override SC rejection if Abbas requests its use.
-
- Nine SC votes are needed to force Washington to veto.
On September 29, Haaretz writer Jack Khoury headlined, "Palestinian
FM: Eight UN Security Council members support statehood bid," saying:
-
- "Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told
the Voice of Palestine on Thursday that eight members (pledged) to support
(its) application, and that great efforts are being made to secure a decisive
ninth supporter."
-
- Colombia and Bosnia are two options. Given Bogata's ties
to Washington, hopes lie mainly with Bosnia. It's unlikely undecided permanent
SC members Britain and France will vote yes.
-
- States now pledging support include Russia, China, India,
Brazil, South Africa, Lebanon, Nigeria and Gabon.
-
- On September 28, Haaretz headlined, "Palestinian
statehood bid to be reviewed by UN committee," saying:
-
- The Security Council "unanimously agreed to hand
the Palestinian application" to a standing committee on admissions,
composed of all 15 SC members.
-
- Despite a customary 35 days allowed, diplomats believe
tabling will leave resolution in limbo for months. America, of course,
wants none to comply with Israel and its powerful US Lobby, having near
total control over Washington policy.
-
- Abbas said he wants review completed in weeks. It remains
to be seen if he'll petition the General Assembly with or without SC resolution
or if America vetoes a forced vote.
-
- On September 30, Haaretz writer Jack Khoury headlined,
"Palestinians press Security Council members to back UN statehood
bid," saying:
-
- Next week, Abbas plans to visit Colombia "in an
attempt to convince officials (there) to support" UN membership.
-
- According to an unnamed Palestinian official:
-
- "(W)ithin the Security Council, there are nine nations
who had already recognized a Palestinian state, so the Palestinians expect
those countries to support the (UN) proposal too."
-
- However, he added, Washington is exerting enormous pressure
on Colombia "through states such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile,
as well as pressure from the (pro-Palestinian) side being exerted by Russia
and Arab states on Bosnia."
-
- European Parliament Backs Palestinian UN Membership
-
- Consisting of 736 MEPs (Members of the European Parliament),
it functions as the EU's elected parliamentary body together with the Council
of the European Union and European Commission.
-
- On Thursday, it adopted a resolution endorsing the legitimacy
of Palestinian membership, saying:
-
- "The right of Palestinians to self-determination
and to have their own state is unquestionable, as is the right of Israel
to exist within safe borders."
-
- Supported by an overwhelming majority of its members,
it called on EU members to adopt a united decision for it within 1967 borders
with Jerusalem the capital of both states. It also wants new settlement
construction halted.
-
- On September 21, Quartet members America, Russia, the
EU and UN proposed a timeline for "realistic and serious" negotiations
to begin in a month. They hope for comprehensive proposals within three
months, substantial progress in six, and a firm deal by end of 2012.
-
- Notably, the proposal excludes key issues, including
settlements, 1967 borders, East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital, Gaza's
siege, diaspora Palestinians right of return, and their legitimate elected
Hamas government, among others.
-
- In other words, it's little more than old wine in new
bottles to deny full membership and keep Palestine oppressively occupied.
No responsible leader would accept it.
-
- On September 29, Ma'an News said the PLO Executive Committee
rejected the proposal until all settlement construction stops. According
to PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo:
-
- "The Palestinian leadership stresses clearly that
it cannot accept holding negotiations that lack the minimum limits of responsibility
and seriousness amied the continuation of settlements and stealing of land."
-
- Israel's announced plan for 1,100 new East Jerusalem
Gilo neighborhood homes on stolen Palestinian land provides more proof
of its insincerely. According to Rabbo:
-
- "The new decision regarding the settlements and
its timing, during the meeting of the General Assembly and the statement
of the world Quartet, comes to assure that Israel is not ready to respect
the international will and the basics of the peace process, and the decisions
of the world Quartet."
-
- Moreover, Washington and Israeli demands for making Palestinian
UN membership dependent on successful peace negotiations is an unacceptable
red herring.
-
- For decades, Palestinians wanted peace. Israel and Washington
reject it. Negotiations since 1978 proved futile. Israel wants new ones
to obstruct, not achieve, peace, as well as prevent full Palestinian UN
membership. Agreeing to another charade assures it, leaving Palestinians
at square one.
-
- Moreover, at least since 1988, the PLO expressed willingness
to recognize Israel's legitimacy. Notably on December 8, 1988, New York
Times writer Steve Lohr headlined, "Arafat Says PLO Accepted Israel,"
saying:
-
- "Yassir Arafat said today that the Palestine Liberation
Organization accepted the existence of the state of Israel. His statement,
which he presented as a milestone, was immediately dismissed in Israel
and greeted coldly by the United States."
-
- At a news conference, Arafat said:
-
- The Palestinian parliament (exiled in Tunisia at the
time) "accepted the existence of Israel as a state in the region (and)
declared its rejection and condemnation of terrorism in all its forms."
-
- "We accept two states, the Palestine state and the
Jewish state of Israel."
-
- Moreover, Hamas also willingly accepts Israel's right
to exist in return for its recognition of a viable Palestinian state within
1967 borders (22% of historic Palestine) with East Jerusalem its capital.
-
- Israel flat refuses. It calls Palestine's legitimate
government "a terrorist organization." Moreover, Netanyahu and
previous Israeli leaders offer nothing in return for Palestinians unconditionally
accepting their demands.
-
- That position assures failure and continued Israeli instigated
conflict to claim Palestinians reject peace and don't deserve UN membership.
-
- It's high time world leaders called that bluff, sanctioned
Israel for its lawlessness, and granted Palestinians what they want and
deserve.
-
- It's essential Abbas demand it by petitioning the General
Assembly through the 1950 Uniting for Peace Resolution 377 to achieve what's
easily obtainable by mid-October.
-
- With overwhelming world body support, it's slam dunk
certain if he proceeds. It's essential that PLO officials demand it. Given
Washington and Israeli obstructionism, there's no other way. This way works
easily.
-
- Palestine's UN Membership Application
-
- Petitioning for membership is "based on the Palestinian
people's natural, legal and historic rights and based on United Nations
General Assembly resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 as well as the
Declaration of Independence of the State of Palestine of 15 November 1988
and the acknowledgement by the General Assembly of this Declaration in
resolution 43/177 of 15 December 1988."
-
- The application affirmed Palestine's "commitment
to the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the vision of two-States living side
by side in peace and security...."
-
- It also called the PLO "the sole legitimate representative
of the Palestinian people."
-
- "Further, the Palestinian leadership stands committed
to resume negotiations on all final status issues - Jerusalem, the Palestine
refugees, settlements, borders, security and water - on the basis of the
internationally-endorsed terms of reference, including the relevant United
Nations resolutions....the principle of land for peace," and others.
-
- On the Progressive Radio News Hour to air October 2,
Francis Boyle said all essential elements are included.
-
- Among world nations, only Israel has no fixed borders,
so negotiations must establish rightful Palestinian ones. At the same time,
they want statehood based on pre-1967 territory with East Jerusalem their
capital. Accepting less is failure and betrayal.
-
- Moreover, international law affirms the right of diaspora
refugees to return. Statehood assures automatic citizenship for all Palestinians.
As a result, they're free to leave and return home. No nation can legally
stop them. It's non-negotiable law.
-
- In addition, resources on Palestinian land and its offshore
waters belong solely to Palestine. Israel has no right to steal or use
them.
-
- Settlement construction must also stop. Henceforth, their
residents have a choice either to remain ex-pats in a foreign country under
its laws or leave. Further, Palestinians no longer will be prohibited from
living anywhere in their own country under Israeli imposed apartheid.
-
- Rights and obligations come with officially recognized
statehood and full UN membership. Palestinians willingly accept them.
-
- After 63 years of waiting, world affirmation must assure
what no longer can be denied is granted. Abbas must petition the General
Assembly through Resolution 377 to secure it. Palestinians must demand
it be done.
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- A Final Comment
-
- Supporting wrong over right, Washington, Israel and US
major media scoundrels pull out all stops to scuttle justice.
-
- The New York Times, Washington Post, other broadsheet
editorial positions, and pro-Israeli op-ed writers deplore it.
-
- Washington Post writer and Fox News regular Charles Krauthammer
is one of the worst. On September 29, his op-ed headlined, "Land without
peace: Why Abbas went to the UN," saying:
-
- "According to the accepted narrative, Middle East
peace is made impossible by a hard-line Likud-led Israel that refuses to
accept a Palestinian state and continues to build settlements."
-
- "It is remarkable how this gross inversion of the
truth has become conventional wisdom. In fact, (Netanyahu's) coalition....open(ly)
recogni(zes) a Palestinian state (and) a two-state solution. He is the
only prime minister to agree to a settlement freeze (for) 10 months...."
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- Fact check
-
- Where to begin! Krauthammer knows but won't say that
Israel keeps stealing Palestinian land lawlessly. No Israeli leader ever
recognized a legitimate Palestinian state, let alone within 1967 borders
with East Jerusalem its capital.
-
- Netanyahu is Israel's most duplicitous, out-of-control
leader, a man who deplores peace, who once called negotiations "a
waste of time," and whose hardline extremism chooses conflict over
diplomacy.
-
- Palestinians never had a legitimate peace partner. It's
truer than ever now under Netanyahu and his ultranationalist Foreign Minister/Deputy
Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
-
- Moreover, during Netanyahu's "freeze," construction
proceeded apace building 2,000 units on stolen Palestinian land.
-
- Yet Krauthammer accused Abbas of "boycotting the
talks for nine months, showing up in the 10th, then walking out when the
'freeze' expired."
-
- Fact check
-
- Abbas, in fact, stood by his willingness to negotiate
if Israel stopped stealing Palestinian land, dispossessing its residents,
and bulldozing their homes.
-
- "Abbas unwaveringly insists on the 'so-called' 'right
of return,' which would demographically destroy Israel by swamping it with
millions of Arabs, thereby turning the world's only Jewish state into the
world's 23rd Arab state. And he has repeatedly declared....'We shall not
recognize a Jewish state.' "
-
- Fact check
-
- The right of citizens to leave and return home is enshrined
in international law. Diaspora Palestinians wishing to return would come
to Palestine, not Israel. Thousands, not millions, may do it.
-
- Peace treaties don't include provisions to recognize
another country's religion. Principles of the 1994 Israel-Jordan agreement
included borders, normalization, security, defense, Jerusalem, water, and
Palestinian refugees. Israel never demanded Jordan recognize a Jewish state.
It likely never came up in negotiations nor would it with any Arab state.
-
- Yet Krauthammer called "Palestinian rejectionism
(historically) consistent...."
-
- Again, he conveniently inverts truth to suppress decades
of Israeli demands, offering nothing more than insisting Palestinians enforce
their own occupation. In other words, be their own jailer!
-
- He continued with a litany of lies and distortions, including
saying Abbas went to New York for "land without peace....(a)n independent
Palestine in a continued state of war with Israel."
-
- According to Krauthammer and others like him, only Jews
have rights, not Arabs. Whatever Israel wants, it deserves. It includes
stealing all occupied land it wishes, imprisoning Palestinians who object,
and terrorizing millions of people wanting only to live free in peace on
their own land.
-
- Not if racists like Krauthammer get their way!
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- Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
-
- Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive
Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central
time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
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- http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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