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November 29, 2012

U.N. Set to Back Palestinian Nonmember Status Despite U.S. Opposition 
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The United Nations General Assembly is expected to vote today in favor
of tacitly recognizing Palestinian statehood by giving Palestine
nonmember observer status. The Palestinian bid has drawn wide support
from European countries including France and Spain, despite threats from
the United States and Israel to punish the Palestinian government by
withholding funds. Britain said Wednesday it would abstain from the vote
barring certain assurances, including a vow by Palestinians not to
extend International Criminal Court jurisdiction over the Occupied
Territories. Israel had previously threatened to topple Palestinian
leadership over the statehood bid but on Thursday a spokesperson for
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to downplay the vote's
significance.

Mark Regev: "The only way to Palestine statehood is through peace talks,
through reconciliation. By going to United Nations, the Palestinians can
get a piece of paper, they can get a resolution. But nothing will change
here on the ground. The only way to make a better future for Israelis
and Palestinians is through peace talks. They promised that all
outstanding issues will resolved through peaceful negotiations. This
one-sided act, we see this as, breaking their commitments, so of course,
Israel will reserve the rights to respond if necessary."

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns met with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday ahead of today's vote. After the
meeting Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the United States
remains opposed to its plea for recognition.

Saeb Erekat: "Their position did not change. They conveyed a message
today that we should not go to the U.N., that we will not realize the
Palestinian state through the U.N. President Abbas told them that we
differ. We have circulated a resolution. We are not here to confront you
the Americans or to isolate Israel. We are here to reinstate the
two-state solution on 1967 lines and this we will do and we will vote on
it tomorrow afternoon."

 

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