Palestinians eye UN recognition amid new US warning

27 Nov 2012, 9:41 am   -   Source: AFP
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The United States and Israel have opposed the UN application, insisting that only direct talks on a peace accord can produce an accord that will create a Palestinian state. (AAP)

The United States and Israel have opposed the UN application, insisting that only direct talks on a peace accord can produce an accord that will create a Palestinian state. (AAP)

Palestinian diplomats released a draft resolution on a bid for UN recognition as the United States again warned that a successful vote this week could cost the Palestinians dearly in US aid cash.

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Palestinian diplomats released a draft resolution on a bid for UN recognition as the United States again warned that a successful vote this week could cost the Palestinians dearly in US aid cash.
  
While the Palestinians are guaranteed of getting a majority in the 193 member UN General Assembly, the resolution is fiercely opposed by the United States and Israel and has also had a cold reaction from key European powers.
  
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is to attend Thursday's meeting backing the call for "non-member observer state" status.
  
The draft also calls on the UN Security Council to "consider favorably" the Palestinian request for full membership made one year ago. The United States has blocked that move at the 15-nation council.
  
The resolution would call for a Middle East settlement that "fulfills the vision of two states, an independent, sovereign, democratic, contiguous amd viable state of Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders."
  
It also highlights the "urgent need" for a resumption of peace talks, frozen in September 2010 when Israel refused a Palestinian demand to extend a moratorium on settlement building in the occupied territories.
  
The United States and Israel have opposed the UN application, insisting that only direct talks on a peace accord can produce an accord that will create a Palestinian state.
  
A successful vote could cost the United Nations money as US law prohibits funding to international bodies that recognize a Palestinian state.
  
About $200 million in development aid to the Palestinian Authority is currently blocked in the US Congress, and State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that could also be at risk.
  
"Obviously, if they take this step it's going to complicate the way the Congress looks at the Palestinians," Nuland told a briefing.
  
The US administration believes the money "should go forward in the interest of the Palestinian people, regardless of whether their leaders make bad decisions," the spokeswoman added.
  
"But, that said, there are folks in Congress who are watching this extremely closely and we have said to the Palestinians that they should not count on a favorable response from the Congress if they go forward with this."
  
The US government says it has provided more than $3.5 billion in aid to the Palestinian Authority and in humanitarian assistance since 1994.
  
The Palestinian territories are already gripped by their worst economic crisis in decades but the Palestinians say they are going to the UN General Assembly out of frustration at the lack of progress in peace talks during President Barack Obama's first term.
  
"The Palestinians feel they have nothing to lose, that their conditions cannot get any worse," said one Arab diplomat at the United Nations.
  
"We are going to the UN fully confident in our steps. We will have our rights because you are with us," Abbas told a rally in support of the Palestinian bid on Sunday.



 

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Your Comments

Should Be Clear

robertsgt40 - from San Antonio Texas, 6 months ago

It should be clear to all who pulls the strings on U.S. foreign(and domestic) policy. With all the problems the U.S. has, I can't believe we have time to make more enemies. Disgusting.

"cold reaction from key European powers."

Michael Rivero - from Honolulu, 6 months ago

Isn't it wonderful that things are going so well in Europe that the powers have nothing else to do but tinker with Palestine on behalf of Israel?

Big Brother bidding

Rashid - from WA, 6 months ago

The big brother and master must have ordered it so. "Australia to abstain from Palestinian vote"

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