November 29: The UN will vote to recognize Palestine as a "state."

[Direckshun]

Currently, Palestine is a non-member observer entity in the UN.

The Palestinians have pressed forth to introduce a measure to upgrade them in the UN's eyes to a non-member observer state.

While being upgraded from non-member observer entity to non-member observer state doesn't sound like much, it does provide Palestine an opportunity to actually contribute and perform within the UN.

Most damning, of course, is that it would tell Israel and the United States that their treatment of Palestine is tantamount to suppression of what should be a legitimate, free country. An act bordering on apartheid, which the ICC (run by the UN, which could soon include Palestine) as "inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them." I don't regard that as a possibility.

But essentially, this has the ability to be a game changer in favor of two-state negotiations in favor of the Palestinian people, as opposed to the Likud/GOP alliance, which does not want any such two-state solution. All the facts on the ground right now favor Israel, as they expand their land, take more of the Palestinian land, and pretend with each passing year that the '67 borders with agreed-upon land swaps is some crime against Israel's humanity.

The only real arrow in Palestine's quiver is international opinion. And this particular vote in the UN cannot be unilaterally shot down by the United States, so it is sure to be voted on, and sure to be passed by roughly 75% of the UN.

As such, the United States and Israel are, understandably, freaking the **** out. The US is threatening to withdraw funding for much of the UN. Israel is threatening to discard the Oslo Accord, which allowed Palestine self-governance. This could potentially mean apartheid in everything but name.

So things are going to get really, really fascinating.

I ultimately think that Israel and the US' bark is worse than their bite. Obama prides himself on effective diplomacy which cannot happen if he's going to war with the UN. Israel's Netanyahu is far less concerned with international opinion, but doesn't want Israel to end up on the wrong side of the distinction between internationally frowned-upon to internationally despised. Though he may be heading that way anyway.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...rver-state-bid

Palestinians Defy Obama With UN ‘Observer State’ Bid
By Flavia Krause-Jackson
on November 08, 2012

Palestinians defied newly re-elected U.S. President Barack Obama by pushing ahead with a second statehood bid at the United Nations that will raise their profile at the world body and highlight the stagnation of the Mideast peace process.

The Palestinian Authority yesterday circulated a resolution to put the Palestine Liberation Organization on a par with the Holy See, according to a draft that will be put to a vote in the UN’s 193-member General Assembly, where the initiative has enough support to pass and the U.S. lacks veto power.

The latest steps by the Palestinians present Obama with his first foreign-policy challenge three days after he won a second term. A year ago, the Palestinians abandoned an attempt to be recognized as a full member state through the Security Council after Obama indicated the U.S. would use its veto there.

The PLO, which currently is an observer “entity,” is seeking a nonmember “observer state status,” according to the draft obtained by Bloomberg News.

By resurrecting the statehood issue in the General Assembly, the Palestinian leadership is trying to force the White House to pay attention to a moribund Palestinian-Israeli peace process that has dropped off the list of foreign-policy priorities for Obama.

In doing so, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is jeopardizing relations with Obama, as well as about $500 million in U.S. economic and security aid that members of Congress have threatened to cut if Palestinians proceed at the UN.

Issue Fades

The Palestinians have seen their cause fall into relative obscurity internationally since formal peace talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government were frozen two years ago.

Peace talks stumbled over the issue of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War. Abbas said he wouldn’t return to negotiations unless Israel froze all settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Netanyahu has refused to renew a 10-month freeze on construction that expired in 2010.

Abbas will present the resolution in person in New York, according to a UN official speaking on condition of anonymity. A vote is expected to take place by the end of the month, the official said.

Still, the move isn’t without risks.

When the Palestinian Authority was accepted last year into the UN cultural agency UNESCO, best known for its designation of “world heritage” sites, the U.S. response was to cut off funding that provides almost a quarter of the agency’s budget.

The U.S. has said that American law would require similar cutoffs for any UN agency that grants the Palestinians the same status as member states.

International Criminal Court

The upgrade may open the door for Palestinians to join other UN agencies, including the International Criminal Court, where they could ask for Israel to be tried for war crimes.

“Israel’s main worry is the ICC,” Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said in an Oct. 24 interview. “They don’t want me to have a sword on their neck.”

The initiative could also jeopardize international aid that accounts for about 14 percent of the Palestinians’ gross domestic product and invite retaliatory measures from Israel.

As for the U.S., the administration’s position hasn’t wavered. The U.S. ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, has said repeatedly that “unilateral actions,” such as the upgrade of the Palestinians’ UN status, would only derail efforts to restart direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

[Dylan]

IDF Pinpoint Strike on Ahmed Jabari, Head of Hamas Military Wing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6U2ZQ0EhN4

Official Israel Defense Forces Twitter account: real-time information and updates from the IDF:

We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead.

https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson


The Al Qassam Brigades in Palestine use a couple of Twitter accounts - However, I'm not about to post a link to their activities. They mark some of their attacks with the hashtag #terrorism.

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Israeli Debater on CNN: "The difference between us and them is that they target innocent civilians. We don't do that." Seconds later, the Palestinian debater's street is bombed.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video...eshay-intv.cnn

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

Israeli Debater on CNN: "The difference between us and them is that they target innocent civilians. We don't do that." Seconds later, the Palestinian debater's street is bombed.

So let me get this straight...You are saying that Israelis go out of their way to target innocents?

People like you honestly are part of the reason why this conflict is still happening.

The ONLY ones going out of their way to bomb innocent people are Hamas and Palestinians.

For some reason people like you seem to not understand the difference....

There is a reason that hiding among civilians and wearing civilian clothing is illegal.....

The sooner everyone condemns the people sending 3+ rockets EVERY DAY at israel over the last DECADE the sooner we can all have peace.

Honestly, are you that stupid?

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

So let me get this straight...You are saying that Israelis go out of their way to target innocents?

People like you honestly are part of the reason why this conflict is still happening.

The ONLY ones going out of their way to bomb innocent people are Hamas and Palestinians.

For some reason people like you seem to not understand the difference....

There is a reason that hiding among civilians and wearing civilian clothing is illegal.....

The sooner everyone condemns the people sending 3+ rockets EVERY DAY at israel over the last DECADE the sooner we can all have peace.

Honestly, are you that stupid?

I'm saying I posted a video, comprehend? You can feel free to go fight on one side of this unholy war, I will stay out of it.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

I will stay out of it.

As well you should you blowhard moron. You don't have the balls to even stand up and denounce evil when it slaps you in the face.

If mexico was firing 1000 rockets a year at the USA would you think we should try to target the mother****ers doing the rocketry?

You are a god damn retard

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

As well you should you blowhard moron. You don't have the balls to even stand up and denounce evil when it slaps you in the face.

If mexico was firing 1000 rockets a year at the USA would you think we should try to target the mother****ers doing the rocketry?

You are a god damn retard

Go over there and die you ****ing idiot, as for me I will serve the Lord. Denounce you little Pussy!

[go bowe]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

Go over there and die you ****ing idiot, as for me I will serve the Lord. Denounce you little Pussy!

who you callin pussy???

what?

oh, nm...

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

Screw Palestine, IMHO, there is no Palestine anymore. They have had their chances for so long now since 1948 it's reprehensible to think they should have a state after the death and destruction by those raghead Arabs.

Tell them to go back to Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, they treated them so well during the years they occupied the WB and the Gaza. Stupid idiots couldn't even see things then that they were screwed, but yet they still want to back them for a fight they do not deserve to have.

Here is the deal, When you are given your state, and you are not happy because you want the whole damn pie, you stage war and announce death to Israel, you get what you get. Idiocy!

This post was reported. Just like the person of Hispanic heritage post was that resulted in Livesteam getting banned for a week. Roy, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here, however I'd like to make it clear that while DC is not heavily moderated, racial slurs such as this one will result in bannings. There's a lot of dancing around racism that goes on in this forum, and the other moderators have decided that for now that's okay. It's not okay with me, but I believe in a majority consensus. That said, these blatant slurs will not be tolerated, so be ready for a vacation if you insist on using them.

[ROYC75]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

This post was reported. Just like the person of Hispanic heritage post was that resulted in Livesteam getting banned for a week. Roy, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here, however I'd like to make it clear that while DC is not heavily moderated, racial slurs such as this one will result in bannings. There's a lot of dancing around racism that goes on in this forum, and the other moderators have decided that for now that's okay. It's not okay with me, but I believe in a majority consensus. That said, these blatant slurs will not be tolerated, so be ready for a vacation if you insist on using them.

I appreciate the benefit of doubt. All of this political correctness is nonsense when we have our 1st amendments rights.

But if anybody looks at me being racist, all I can say is it's one of the funniest comments on this forum or the history of CP. All of my grand kids are either biracial from the African American, Indian or our Native Indians.Yes, I have grand kids that can pass as Arabs by looking at them.

Proud & Love every one of them and have nothing against the people of their race except a disagreement amongst views.

The Arabs ( idiots, jihadist, etc) have tried to destroy Israel for over 2000 years and they have never learned anything, nada, nothing. How many Arabs are offended by Achmed the Dead Terroist or Jeff Dunham ?

The Liberals of the world think that all Republicans are racist cause they disagree with our POTUS. Crap, we have to dance around this issue because of the idiocy of the Liberals over this. We have to with the Muslim world because Obama says so ?

Political correctness is words of today - tomorrow.

The African American community can have their slag, words, degrading words and use it within their community, yet when it's heard in the whit community, it's their way, their rights,it shouldn't offend the white population. This is nothing more that double standards, screw you people but don't say anything negative that I may take offensive.

I see this crap all the time in the community.....my grand kids speak up and tell them they are wrong to act this way. What do you think happens next ?

Yep, they get looked upon as different, being raised by a white mama, an Uncle Tom family. The facts are they are smarter that the idiots that calls them names because we teach them differently.

Yeah, I should just not use any name at all, people are so butthurt over their insecurities. Let's not offend anybody they might go off !

Let's oppress the 1st Amendment.

[BucEyedPea]

ROY,

The Bill of Rights was added to protect us from the Federal govt. First amendment rights do not apply in a private forum.
You can ban any message in your home even.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

I appreciate the benefit of doubt. All of this political correctness is nonsense when we have our 1st amendments rights.

But if anybody looks at me being racist, all I can say is it's one of the funniest comments on this forum or the history of CP. All of my grand kids are either biracial from the African American, Indian or our Native Indians.Yes, I have grand kids that can pass as Arabs by looking at them.

Proud & Love every one of them and have nothing against the people of their race except a disagreement amongst views.

The Arabs ( idiots, jihadist, etc) have tried to destroy Israel for over 2000 years and they have never learned anything, nada, nothing. How many Arabs are offended by Achmed the Dead Terroist or Jeff Dunham ?

The Liberals of the world think that all Republicans are racist cause they disagree with our POTUS. Crap, we have to dance around this issue because of the idiocy of the Liberals over this. We have to with the Muslim world because Obama says so ?

Political correctness is words of today - tomorrow.

The African American community can have their slag, words, degrading words and use it within their community, yet when it's heard in the whit community, it's their way, their rights,it shouldn't offend the white population. This is nothing more that double standards, screw you people but don't say anything negative that I may take offensive.

I see this crap all the time in the community.....my grand kids speak up and tell them they are wrong to act this way. What do you think happens next ?

Yep, they get looked upon as different, being raised by a white mama, an Uncle Tom family. The facts are they are smarter that the idiots that calls them names because we teach them differently.

Yeah, I should just not use any name at all, people are so butthurt over their insecurities. Let's not offend anybody they might go off !

Let's oppress the 1st Amendment.

It comes as no surprise to me that you don't understand the first amendment.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

of this unholy war, I will stay out of it.

Running your bitch ass mouth isn't "staying out of it" now is it?

Dumb ass hypocrite. Stay out of it then...

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

Running your bitch ass mouth isn't "staying out of it" now is it?

Dumb ass hypocrite. Stay out of it then...

Like you're in it, you like to imagine don't you. Go pretend and head to fairy land little boy. Go get your M16 and parachute and get your ass over there.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

Like you're in it, you like to imagine don't you. Go pretend and head to fairy land little boy. Go get your M16 and parachute and get your ass over there.

Way to take a stand...."stay out of it" yet running your mouth constantly about it.....

You are too dumb to even know the meaning of simple words....

Why can't you practice what you preach?

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

Way to take a stand...."stay out of it" yet running your mouth constantly about it.....

You are too dumb to even know the meaning of simple words....

Why can't you practice what you preach?

I don't know what kind of alternate reality you're in but I am "out of it" as I won't be heading over there to fight an unwinnable war for either side. Perhaps you missed that part I mentioned earlier, have at it hero.