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.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

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.

I see, so you are saying that unless you actually FLY over there that you aren't supposed to discuss the issue? Unless we go do battle over there we can't have an opinion regarding rocket attacks? IN A ****ING POLITICAL DISCUSSION FORUM?

You are a god damn moron, seriously.

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

I see, so you are saying that unless you actually FLY over there that you aren't supposed to discuss the issue? Unless we go do battle over there we can't have an opinion regarding rocket attacks? IN A ****ING POLITICAL DISCUSSION FORUM?

You are a god damn moron, seriously.

You only see one side, therefore you are not worth arguing with. I'm telling you that if you feel that strongly take those tough words to action.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Some crazy pics of Gaza getting blown the **** up. Too lazy to post.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

You only see one side.......I'm telling you that if you feel that strongly take those tough words to action.

Totally false, I am absolutely for Palestine having its own state, and against illegal Israeli settlements.

Again, you are a stupid piece of shit with no idea about what you are saying.

I feel strongly about this, so you're saying I should go to Palestine and fight for Hamas?

Honestly you are a pathetic joke, simply trying to shout down discussion in a forum.

"If you feel so strongly that way, shut up and go fight" What a ****ing retard.....

Sorry, I can have an opinion and not want to do violence toward others.

[BucEyedPea]

Pawnmower always the civil poster.

[ImAWalkingCorpse]

Anonymous is going after Israeli websites.

[stevieray]

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.

you're compeltely FOS....can't call someone an idiot based on the their heritage? ya keep lowering the bar becaue you think they are less than and need your help...it's blatantly racist...

...and utterly pathetic.

[La literatura]

Originally Posted by stevieray

you're compeltely FOS....can't call someone an idiot based on the their heritage? ya keep lowering the bar becaue you think they are less than and need your help...it's blatantly racist...

...and utterly pathetic.

"raghead Arabs," not "idiot" is the slur.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Literature

"raghead Arabs," not "idiot" is the slur.

ahh, thank you.

raghead is slang for turban, but I can see how it is innapropiate, because it was used in a derogatory manner.

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Pawnmower always the civil poster.

Not only that his comprehension skills are abysmal, I'm thinking he escaped the asylum.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

Not only that his comprehension skills are abysmal, I'm thinking he escaped the asylum.

Yeah, he's another chronic strawmanner.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Yeah, he's another chronic strawmanner.

Show me the straw man in my post you dumb ****

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by stevieray

ahh, thank you.

raghead is slang for turban, but I can see how it is innapropiate, because it was used in a derogatory manner.

Well it sure was nice of you to chew Flopnuts head off when you were wrong and then apologize for it. I'm sure he's happy.

[ForeverChiefs58]

Originally Posted by ImAWalkingCorpse

Anonymous is going after Israeli websites.

How dare Israel get mad for having hundreds of rockets randomly fired on their citizens, as well as their women and children purposely targeted for the only reason being that they are Jewish.

This whole war, just as with the Nazis, is about the hatred of jews period. This kind of hatred is instilled as children and is a huge factor in the problems there.

Watch this


You cannot achieve peace until the main point is focused on.

There is no such thing as illegal settlements. Isael didn't take it from any sovergn nation let alone palestinians in general. It was occupied by arabs constantly waging war in their quest to kill jews.

The media, despite being run and controlled by jews, never calls it what it really is and only reacts negatively against Israel when they respond.


The palestinians only want Jerusalem to take from the jews. If you have ever been there, you would understand why they want Jerusalem, Dome of the Rock and the Templ Mount.

Every single time the palestinians have had a chance at a state they have rejected it, and responded with attacks. They still to this day won't even recognise Isael, and their charter calls for Isael's destruction. They have said jews wouldn't be allowed in their new state when they get one.

They have no interest in peace. People should believe them when they say they want to exterminate the jews, not hope they magically grasp the concept of peace. There is a reason they helped Hitler.

[|Zach|]

[quote=ForeverChiefs58;9125829]
The media, despite being run and controlled by jews, never calls it what it really is and only reacts negatively against Israel when they respond.
/QUOTE]

Surely someone of middle eastern decent banged your lady. You have the weirdest paranoia filled feelings about Arabs. There must be a reason for it.

From your posting history it looks like you live in constant fear of this stuff.