UN vote over Palestinian statehood puts Obama administration in bind
source: http://www.npr.org/2011/09/13/140439942/palestinian-plan-puts-u-s-in-a-bind
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After years of gridlock in Mideast negotiations, the Palestinians plan to seek U.N. membership as a state on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war. That territory includes the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, and the plan would go through the Security Council, where the U.S. has already promised to use its veto.
Palestinians Cite Obama Speech
The Obama administration is scrambling to head off what it fears will be a diplomatic train wreck at the United Nations next week.
When talking about their U.N. bid, Palestinians are quick to recall what President Obama told the world body one year ago, when he launched peace talks that he hoped would finally resolve decades of conflict.
"This time, we should reach for what's best within ourselves," the president said. "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."
U.S. Congress Could Act
You can pass any number of pieces of papers at the United Nations — it's not going to create a state.
- Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (warmonger and Israeli shill)
Leading members of Congress accuse the Palestinians of trying to "delegitimize" Israel. Lawmakers are threatening to cut U.S. aid to Palestinians and stop funding U.N. agencies that upgrade the status of Palestinians.
A top Palestinian official, Hanan Ashrawi, says that's cause for concern.
"Yeah, we are worried," she says. "But we are not as worried as we are about losing the rest of our land, and about having Israel destroy the chances of peace by destroying the two-state solution, which is what it is doing with American cover."
She says the U.S. failed to revive serious negotiations with a clear time frame and goals. So now the Palestinians are taking what Ashrawi describes as a legal, responsible path at the U.N.
"If we get an upgrade in our status to a non-member state, that will first of all give us access to all U.N. institutions, organizations and agencies, including, of course, judicial agencies for legal accountability," she says.
In other words, the Palestinians could then challenge Israel's activities in the occupied territories
Palestinians Cite Obama Speech
The Obama administration is scrambling to head off what it fears will be a diplomatic train wreck at the United Nations next week.
When talking about their U.N. bid, Palestinians are quick to recall what President Obama told the world body one year ago, when he launched peace talks that he hoped would finally resolve decades of conflict.
"This time, we should reach for what's best within ourselves," the president said. "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."
U.S. Congress Could Act
You can pass any number of pieces of papers at the United Nations — it's not going to create a state.
- Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (warmonger and Israeli shill)
Leading members of Congress accuse the Palestinians of trying to "delegitimize" Israel. Lawmakers are threatening to cut U.S. aid to Palestinians and stop funding U.N. agencies that upgrade the status of Palestinians.
A top Palestinian official, Hanan Ashrawi, says that's cause for concern.
"Yeah, we are worried," she says. "But we are not as worried as we are about losing the rest of our land, and about having Israel destroy the chances of peace by destroying the two-state solution, which is what it is doing with American cover."
She says the U.S. failed to revive serious negotiations with a clear time frame and goals. So now the Palestinians are taking what Ashrawi describes as a legal, responsible path at the U.N.
"If we get an upgrade in our status to a non-member state, that will first of all give us access to all U.N. institutions, organizations and agencies, including, of course, judicial agencies for legal accountability," she says.
In other words, the Palestinians could then challenge Israel's activities in the occupied territories
