13 Sep, 2011
U.S. in a Bind Over Palestine’s Bid for U.N. Recognition – IPS ipsnews.net
Barring some last-minute breakthrough that would revive negotiations or otherwise advance their national aspirations, Palestinian officials appear bent on seeking, at a minimum, recognition as a nonmember state from the U.N. General Assembly.
That would allow “Palestine” to join a variety of international bodies and conventions and use them to oppose policies connected with Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem – a tactic that David Makovsky, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, calls “lawfare”.
Israel, already reeling from the expulsion of its ambassador from Turkey and the withdrawal of nearly all its diplomats from Cairo after anti-Israel riots last weekend, is bracing for more turmoil.
Although Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has promised not to allow violent protests, demonstrations could get out of hand – especially if the Palestinian bid for statehood is introduced at the U.N. Security Council where it faces a certain U.S. veto.
Retired Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, former head of intelligence for the Israel Defence Forces, warned Monday that unrest “will not be limited to the West Bank”. Speaking at The Washington Institute, where he is currently a senior fellow, Yadlin said, “The whole Middle East can go on fire. The law of unintended consequences is going to work hard in coming months.”
via U.S. in a Bind Over Palestine’s Bid for U.N. Recognition – IPS ipsnews.net.
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