There’s hardly as much “noise” surrounding the latest Palestinian gambit at the UN as there was last year. Then, the Palestinian Authority sought admission to the UN for “Palestine” as a full member. “Palestine” as an independent state does not exist, but its admission to the UN would have blurred that difference and complicated matters for Israel (and the US) dramatically. Thankfully, the US vetoed the plan.
Well, the PA is back, this time with a less bold plan. Do not let that fool you. The current Palestinian request holds out ugly prospects for Israel.
The draft resolution before the UN General Assembly is to recognize “Palestine” as an “observer state.” That is less than a full state and less than full membership. However, the UN admission of Palestine on an “observer” basis could grant the Palestinians access to bodies such as the International Criminal Court in the Hague.
Translation: Virtually every day of the week, the Palestinians would press charges against Israelis for “war crimes” and whatever else.
Translation: Virtually no Israeli general or leading politician could travel freely virtually anywhere in the world without fear of arrest. Not to mention, every Israeli defensive action against terrorists could potentially be condemned under international law.
Supporters of President Obama in the recent election touted his pro-Israel support. Here would be an excellent opportunity for the president to demonstrate that support once again at the UN. Obama cannot, as he did last year, merely veto the current Palestinian request. The US holds veto power only in the UN Security Council, while the current Palestinian request is to the UN General Assembly, where Arabs have a built-in majority. The potential American influence is in threatening funding for the Palestinians if they seek the UN upgrade.
Both Israel and the US say that Palestinian statehood, in whatever form, is unacceptable in the absence of direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. This is all to the good, but without active administration threats against the latest PA move, it will succeed. The ball is in Washington’s court. We are watching.
Copyright © 2012 by the Intermountain Jewish News
