Overwhelming majority of states vote to give Palestinians non-member observer status, despite Israel and US criticism.

Last Modified: 29 Nov 2012 23:49

The United Nations has voted overwhelmingly to recognise a Palestinian state.

The vote, which was taken at a meeting of the body in New York on Thursday, represents a long-sought victory for the Palestinians but a diplomatic defeat for the US, with 138 countries voting in favour of the upgrade.

Nine countries voted against it and 41 others abstained.

A Palestinian flag was quickly unfurled on the floor of the General Assembly, behind the Palestinian delegation.

The new status is an indirect recognition of the Palestinians' claims on statehood in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. It allows them to join a number of UN agencies, as well as the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Immediately after the results were announced, US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice reiterated the US opposition to upgrading the Palestinians to a nonmember an observer "entity".

"Today's unfortunate and counter-productive resolution places further obstacles in the path to peace. That is why the United States voted against it," she said.

"The backers of today's resolution say they seek functioning, independent Palestinian state at peace with Israel so do we. But we have long been clear that the only way to establish such a Palestinian state and resolve all permanent status issues is through the crucial if painful work of direct negotiations between the parties."

The US and Israel voted against recognition, joined by Canada, the Czech Republic, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Panama.

"Long after the votes have been cast, long after the speeches have been forgotten, it is the Palestinians and the Israelis who must still talk to each other and listen to each other," Rice said.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon renewed his call for the resumption of direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine.

"Today's vote underscores the urgency of the resumption of meaningful negotiations," Ban said.

"My position has been consistent all along. I believe that the Palestinians have a legitimate right to their own independent state. I believe that Israel has the right to live in peace and security with its neighbors. There is no substitute for negotiations to that end."

Dancing in the streets

As the votes were cast, there was silence among the thousands gathered in the West Bank city of Ramallah, which erupted with cheers of joy and chants of "God is greatest" when approval was announced.

"I'm happy they declared the state even though it's only a moral victory. There are a lot of sharks out there, but it feels good," 39-year-old Rashid al-Kor told AFP.

Nearby, Palestinian-American Laila Jaman was waving a handful of Palestinian flags and carrying a picture of US President Barack Obama and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

"I feel so good, I cannot describe my feelings, it's as if we reached the end of a dark tunnel. With a Palestinian state we are now united as a people and a leadership," she said breathlessly.

There were celebrations in cities across the West Bank, as well as in Gaza, where the Hamas government offered tepid support for the bid and allowed backers to express their solidarity with the move.

In Bethlehem, fireworks were shot into the night sky, and churches rang their bells at midnight to mark the occasion.

Ali Abunimah, Palestinian-American activist and founder of Electronic Intifada, told Al Jazeera that the celebrations were uncalled for and that the UN was a "giant distraction."

"I wish that all this hype and dancing in the streets of Ramallah and self-delusion among the people were for a real achievement that actually returned rights to the Palestinian people.

"There is something incongruous and tasteless about the Palestinian Authority sponsoring a dance festival on the streets of Ramallah while families in Gaza are still mourning their children.

"This (vote) is a giant distraction. A cheap gesture, which allows people to celebrate as if they were in a football match."

Difficulties ahead

Abbas addressed the General Assembly, saying that Palestinians were not seeking to "delegitimise" Israel, but to affirm the legitimacy of Palestine as a state.

Abbas referenced the recent Israeli assault on Gaza, saying that Palestine had come to the UN at time when they were "still tending to [their] wounds and still burying [their] beloved martyrs of children, women and men who have fallen victim to the latest Israeli aggression".

"What permits the Israeli government to blatantly continue with its aggressive policies and the perpetration of war crimes stems from its conviction that it is above the law and that it has immunity from accountability and consequences [...] The moment has arrived for the world to say clearly: Enough of aggression, settlements and occupation."

"The General Assembly is called upon today to issue a birth certificate of the reality of the State of Palestine."

"The moment has arrived for the world to say clearly: Enough of aggression, settlements and occupation."

Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Al Jazeera that the comments made by Abbas "make it more difficult" for Israel to negotiate with Palestine.

"Instead of speaking the language of reconciliation, we had libelous charge after libelous charge against the Israeli people."

Regev called "a distortion of history" how Abbas characterised the UN resolution calling for a two-state solution exactly 65 years ago.

"The way he talked about it. He forgot the most important thing. It was the Israeli side, the Jewish side that accepted accepted two states for two people."

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeas ... 11270.html

I do not trust Hamas ~ and I do not trust Netanyahu ~ best line in the op: "Long after the votes have been cast, long after the speeches have been forgotten, it is the Palestinians and the Israelis who must still talk to each other and listen to each other," Rice said.

Sooz

How did canada vote?

against, unfortunately.

In reading other news sources concerning this upgrade of Palestinian recognition, I have read that there are threats from some (?) that if the Palestinians go anywhere near the ICC with the intent of removing the occupation factors, that Gaza, at least, would cease to exist.

It is my understanding that Gilad Sharon, son of Ariel, has said that Gaza should be "flattened," utterly destroyed, and that there were NO "INNOCENT PEOPLE" in Gaza, as the "people" voted for Hamas to lead them, thus asking for their own demise by choosing to place themselves under the protection of Hamas. Mr. Sharon is also quoted as saying that they should be bombed back to the stone age with neither electric power, or water. Nice guy, this Mr. Sharon. Huh?

I think I read that on the news service of Salon. Could be mistaken.

There is also the matter of recognizing their right to enter and exit Gaza freely, and to have deliveries of food, medicine, etc. of their choosing. I think that would be nice. I'd sure as hell hate to find myself confined for several years to the City of West Columbia, SC, while I had to wait for the generosity of some force outside of the city to decide how much food, medicine, visitations, medical care, communication, clothing, repairs, etc. would be permitted to me.

But then, that is apples and oranges, isn't it?

"non-member observer status"

Think about that.

What if you were invited to come to some club's meetings, but you could not be a member, and all you could do would be to observe what went on?

What if you received an invitation from Sooz to come to Voices or Choices -- but you could not be a member, you could not post, and all you could do was to observe what others said?

Would the invitation mean much? Would you be cheering?!

SciFiGuy wrote:

"non-member observer status"

Think about that.

What if you were invited to join a club, but you could not be a member, and all you could do is observe what went on?

What if you received an invitation from Sooz to come to Voices or Choices -- but you could not be a member, you could not post, and all you could do was to observe what others said?

Would the invitation mean much? Would you be cheering?!

Even the Palestinians acknowledge it's only a small step. Like your analogy about Sooz's group, it's the camel getting his nose inside the tent. If it plays it's cards right maybe it will eventually get all the way in.

If it plays it's cards right maybe it will eventually get all the way in.

They will eventually, regardless of what the US and Israel say or do.
Those two are having trouble dragging their asses into the 21st century.