Palestinians celebrate recognition of country as nonmember state by the U.N. General Assembly
At long last, by a vote of 138-9, the United Nations Assembly has approved, accepted and classified the displaced population of Palestine as a nonmember observer state.
The new status, which was sought by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and voted upon overwhelmingly by the 193-member assembly, recognizes Palestinian statehood without granting Palestinians any voting rights at the UN.
The only current nonmember observer state is the Vatican, which welcomed the result, saying, it reflected the majority sentiment of the international community and that the Holy See had long encouraged more global involvement to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Peace needs courageous decisions,” it said in a statement.
But, that is just an encouraging statement from nonmember state to another, which has no right to speak at U.N. General Assembly Meetings, much less participate in procedural votes and sponsor or sign resolutions.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
The recognition, however, allows the Palestinians to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), where it could file complaints with the court accusing Israel of war crimes committed in Gaza and the West Bank, including the construction of settlements in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
It has been reported that before the scheduled voting, the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries wanted assurances from Abbas that Palestine wouldn’t attempt to join the ICC, or at least wouldn’t prosecute Israeli officials. Many took Abbas’ refusal to provide such guarantees as an indication that Palestine intends to haul Israelis before the criminal court, ratcheting up international pressure against them.
Now, is this a good recipe for peace in the Middle East?
The United States and Israel voted against the upgrade, calling it an “obstacle” to building lasting peace between Palestine and Israel.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the vote “unfortunate and counterproductive.”
One would like to think that as the Palestinians are rejoicing and firing in the air in celebration over their country’s recognition and upgraded status, that peace between Israel and Palestine is not far behind.
Based on observation and comments by parties concerned, it seems like either the U.N. assembly made a collective colossal blunder or suffering and death will just intensify because of the imprudent thoughts and actions by the majority of the assembly members.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in Jerusalem: “The decision at the United Nations won’t change anything on the ground.” He added, “It won’t promote the establishment of a Palestinian state; it will distance it.
“Israel’s hand is always extended in peace, but a Palestinian state will not be established without (a Palestinian) recognition of the State of Israel as the Jewish people’s state,” Netanyahu said.
That is the key – not isolating Israel, but rather recognizing it as the Jewish people’s state and that could only be achieve through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians and not via a symbolic vote at the UN General Assembly that would only make peace as elusive as ever and the situation more hellish than it already is.
Quierosaber's Blog 