Security Council gears for PA UN bid vote
UN's Admissions Committee report inconclusive on whether or not PA should become full member state. US officials push to hinder bid, claiming rocket fire proves Palestinians are not a 'pacifist nation'
The countries objecting to the Palestinian Authority's bid, and especially the United States, have clarified they do not believe the Palestinians can be considered as a peace loving nation as long as rockets are still being fired towards Israel.
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The Palestinians have ignored the American demand to not bypass direct negotiations by appealing to the UN, bringing about considerable diplomatic efforts on behalf of Washington in an attempt to block any support for the bid.
The Americans were able to get nine out of 15 Security Council members to promise to vote against receiving Palestine as a full UN member, therefore exempting the US from using its veto power.
During professional discussions Washington headed the campaign opposing the PA's bid for recognition. US officials claimed that due to the fact that Hamas is the de facto authority operating in Gaza and commanding 40% of the Palestinian population, therefore the PA cannot be considered an efficient government.
While some representatives maintained the Palestinians meet the criteria of a pacifist nation because of their commitment to reaching a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel, others believed that the only way to test their readiness out is to see whether they are committed to returning to the negotiations' table.
In the UN report, set to be presented before the Security Council on Friday, the Palestinians' ability to meet the demands of the UN Charter's Chapter IV is put into question. It states that experts have thought about whether Palestine meets the demands of a specific state, a peace loving state willing and about to withstand the commitments listed in the charter.
The report adds that resuming talks was believed to be the only viable option in order to reach a sustainable and permanent peace.
One of the member states' officials remarked that a two-state solution based on 1967 borders should be supported, which could then lead to an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital. He added that the Palestinians' right for self-determination would not come at the expense of the Israel's undisputable right to exist.
Resigned to defeat?
Those opposed to the Palestinian bid stressed that the work done by the UN's Admissions Committee must not hinder chances of renewing the peace talks, especially in light of the Mideast Quartet's September 23 statements.
On the other hand, some officials declared the report must not hinder the Palestinians' plea for recognition before the Security Council, adding they fear Israel will continue building in the settlements and therefore preventing peace.
One of the most interesting propositions in the report is a compromise calling for the General Assembly to first decide whether to approve Palestine as an UN observer state during negotiations.
The Palestinians are resigned to defeat in their quest for full membership at the United Nations, officials said Tuesday, and have started work on their backup plan – seeking an upgraded observer status that would give them access to key international organizations.
Officials said they are already lobbying foreign governments, especially in western Europe, in hopes of rallying support for this alternate strategy.
The officials said this new campaign in the General Assembly, dominated by developing countries normally sympathetic to the Palestinians, could be harder than anticipated because of expected opposition by the US.
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