- A previous article addressed an independent Palestinian
state within 1967 borders, accessed through the following link:
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- http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2011/04/declaring-independent-palestinian-state.html
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- It explained a likely September UN vote on recognition,
establishing de jure General Assembly membership despite strong Washington
and Israeli opposition. The implications are stunning.
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- Haaretz reported that Netanyahu privately said he doesn't
take the possibility "lightly, but we should also not exaggerate its"
importance....Perhaps the Palestinians will have a majority in the UN,
but what matters is not only the quantity but also the quality," adding
"no one can impose a solution on Israel," suggesting non-compliance
or hostile action will follow.
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- According to sources close to his government, he won't
negotiate on 1967 borders, but may face the reality of a Palestinian state
within them, whether or not he concurs. However, his response is another
matter, as well as subsequent international actions.
-
- Also at issue is the power of Washington, supportive
Western nations, and Israel to demand subservience from any leader or risk
removal by coups, wars, or other means.
-
- Nonetheless, independence establishes important new diplomatic
and political dynamics, including the status of Israel's occupation of
a sovereign state, possibly incurring international sanctions if not ended,
as well as regular cross border Gaza raids and incursions into West Bank
and East Jerusalem communities. Also, the confiscation of Palestinian land,
persecution of its people, and status of Jews-only settlements in a sovereign
country..
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- These issues indeed can't be taken lightly, no matter
the power of Israel and its Washington paymaster/partner, complicit in
all its crimes of war, against humanity, and brutal occupation that must
end.
-
- Nonetheless, on March 29, Haaretz headlined, "Israel
threatens unilateral steps if UN recognizes Palestinian state," saying:
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- "Israel informed (all) Security Council (members),
as well as several other prominent European Union countries (30 in all),
that....(it) would (initiate) a series of unilateral steps" in response
to UN recognition, without further explanation.
-
- Claiming doing so violates Oslo, Israel said violence
and other actions could follow. However, one unnamed European official
said in light of deadlocked peace talks, Palestinian statehood appeared
certain in September. Israel might then annex West Bank settlements and
all East Jerusalem, as well as refuse recognition, and the UN mandate to
end its illegal 44 year occupation, essential if Palestine is independent.
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- Supporting the worst of Israeli lawlessness, Congress,
last December 15, by voice vote, passed HR 1765: "Supporting a negotiated
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and condemning unilateral
measures to declare or recognize a Palestinian state, and for other purposes."
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- The resolution ended by calling on the Obama administration
to:
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- "affirm that the United States would deny recognition
to any unilaterally declared Palestinian state and veto any (Security Council
resolution) to establish or recognize (one) outside of an agreement by
the two parties."
-
- However, former PLO legal advisor Law Professor Francis
Boyle explained earlier that Washington provisionally recognized Palestine
as an independent nation. According to UN Charter Article 80(1), it can't
reverse its position by vetoing a Security Council (SC) resolution calling
for Palestine's UN admission. Any veto is illegal, subject to further SC
action under the Charter's Chapter VI. Ultimately, the SC only recommends
admissions. The General Assembly affirms them by a two-thirds majority.
-
- With this in mind perhaps, the PLO Executive Committee
denounced HR 1765, calling it "blunt and completely biased in favor
of Israel and occupation," adding that Congress is "misinformed
as to the facts."
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- "The Palestinian right to freedom and self-determination
is not contingent on (a congressional resolution or) the approval of the
State of Israel" that's illegally occupied and colonized Palestine
since 1967 "in violation of international law and the policies of
the United States and the international community."
-
- Moreover, Israel's 1948 creation was "unilateral,"
a radical move at the time. Today, its refusal to accept Palestinian independence
is further proof of its moral bankruptcy, calling into question its right
to UN membership, as well as the legitimacy of world leaders, including
America, if they ignore its depravity and deny recognition. Their moment
of truth approaches.
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- In July 2000, as a Senate candidate, Hillary Clinton
said:
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- "It must be clear that any unilateral declaration
of Palestinian statehood would be entirely unacceptable and should be met
with a cutoff of United States assistance."
-
- As Secretary of State, she repeatedly said only negotiations
with Israel can lead to a Palestinian state.
-
- Her private view is perhaps more inflexible, even though
in September 2010, Obama told General Assembly members he supported an
independent Palestinian state in one year, saying:
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- "(W)e should reach for what's best within ourselves.
If we do, when we come back here next year, we can have an agreement that
will lead to a new member of the United Nations - an independent sovereign
state of Palestine, living in peace with Israel."
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- His comments were warmly received.
-
- Nonetheless, congressional members now warn that a unilateral
declaration of statehood may end US funding.
-
- Then chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Howard Berman, said:
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- "Pursuing a non-negotiated path to statehood is
a fool's errand. Palestinians want a state, not a declaration. Their only
way to achieve that is through direct negotiations with Israel. If they
try to circumvent negotiation, they'll lose the support of a lot of people
like me, and it will jeopardize their foreign aid as well."
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- Nearly the entire House and Senate concur, vowing diplomatic,
economic, and other measures against Palestinian statehood without Israeli
recognition. Of course, establishing it that way is impossible, except
in isolated bantustan form on worthless scrubland, what no legitimate nation
would accept.
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- Congressional Threat to Withhold UN Funding
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- On April 12, HR 1501 (with 32 co-sponsors) was introduced:
"To withhold United States contributions to the United Nations until
(it) formally retracts the final report of the United Nations Fact Finding
Mission on the Gaza Conflict."
-
- The measure was referred to the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs for further consideration.
-
- It claims "evidence (meaning Richard Goldstone's
April 1 Washington Post op-ed) is available that undoubtedly nullifies
the most controversial aspects of the Goldstone Report, (so the UN) should
formally retract" it.
-
- Ignored was a London Guardian response by the other three
Commission members, saying:
-
- Recent articles and comments on the mission's work "have
misrepresented facts in an attempt to delegitimize the findings of (its)
report and to cast doubts on its credibility."
-
- In fact, determinations were "made after diligent,
independent and objective consideration of the information," carefully
obtained. The Commission endorses "its reliability and credibility.
We firmly stand by these conclusions." No evidence disputes them.
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- The Commission dismisses "calls to reconsider or
even retract the report, as well as attempts (to misrepresent) its nature
and purpose, (saying they) disregard the right of victims....to truth and
justice." This "would be doing a serious injustice to the hundreds
of innocent civilians killed during the Gaza conflict, the thousands injured,
and the hundreds of thousands whose lives continue to be deeply affected
by the conflict and the blockade."
-
- Nonetheless, Res. 1501 instructs the Secretary of State
to "withhold contributions to the regularly assessed biennial budget
of the United Nations until such time as (it) formally retracts the final
report...."
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- Repeated House and Senate actions under Democrat and
Republican leadership redefine chutzpah and irresponsible governance, revealing
their own illegitimacy in the process.
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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.
-
- http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/
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