Not for a two-state solution. For a two-stage execution
Late this month, leaders of the Palestinian Authority are expected to issue a Unilateral Declaration of Independence and ask, in the words of PA Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, that it receive "the blessing of the U.N."
That blessing will not come from the U.N. Security Council: If the Palestinians ask for approval from that body, President Obama is expected to exercise the American veto, though he has not unequivocally pledged to do so. He should -- for reasons I will attempt to explain in a moment.
In the General Assembly, however, blessings almost certainly will be bestowed through the passage of a non-binding resolution. The G.A. has a permanent anti-Israeli (and anti-American) majority. More than 50 U.N. members also belong to theOrganization of the Islamic Conference. Many other nations are eager to please the OIC's oil exporters -- and not displease its terrorism exporters.
The G.A. does not have the power to grant statehood in any legal sense. Nor can it admit new U.N. members. The idea, as Shaath phrased it, is simply "to exert pressure on Israel."
For what purpose? Shaath's goal, and that of his boss, Palestinian Authority PresidentMahmoud Abbas, is not what Obama and other Western leaders favor: a Palestinian state and a Jewish state living side by side in peace. On the contrary, as Shaath said clearly: "The story of 'two states for two peoples' means that there will be a Jewish people over there and a Palestinian people here. We will never accept this." Last weekend, Abbasadded: "Don't order us to recognize a Jewish state. We won't accept it." Read the rest on:
No comments:
Post a Comment