Friends,
Next week the Palestinian Authority will go to the United Nations to request recognition for Palestinian Statehood. This is a dangerous move for the stability of the region and the security of Israel. Israel is on high alert in preparation for the consequences of this vote. If the UN does not vote for a Palestinian State then there is danger of a third intifada. If the UN does vote and nothing changes because there can be no peace without direct negotiations of the parties, then a third intifada is likely to happen.
I have prepared a few excerpts for your reading as well as links. Stay informed. Next week could be a difficult one for Israel and the peace process.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Karyn Kedar
From the ADL:
Can the United Nations recognize a Palestinian state?
No, the United Nations does not have the power to recognize states. Only sovereign states can recognize other states and establish bi-lateral relations. The U.N. can only admit countries as members in the international body.
Why is the Palestinian pursuit of an independent state at this time problematic? Even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Shouldn’t supporters of a “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict welcome this?
Unilateral statehood by the Palestinians violates prior Israel-Palestinian agreements. Notably the 1995 Interim Agreement states that “Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the Permanent Status negotiations.” Thus, any Palestinian effort to change the status of this territory on its own (i.e. seek recognition of its status as an independent state at the U.N., or through seeking a recommendation of statehood by the International Court of Justice) would violate this agreement, and likely void all signed agreements.
Moreover, while Palestinian unilateral action may provide symbolic gains, it will leave the core issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict unresolved and festering, with no framework in place to negotiate the issues. It will not provide Palestinians with a viable and sovereign state, and is likely to raise expectations of the Palestinian people which cannot be met, leading to greater frustrations.
Wasn’t the State of Israel established by the United Nations? Aren’t the Palestinians just doing what the founders of Israel did in the 1940’s?
No, just the opposite. The U.N. did not establish the State of Israel.
In 1947, the U.N. General Assembly recommended the partition of the British Mandate of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab (Resolution 181). The Jewish leadership accepted the proposal, the Arab leadership rejected it. The British Mandate of Palestine formally ended on May 13, 1948. The next day, David Ben Gurion, declared the establishment of the State of Israel. (Immediately thereafter, the new state was attacked by the surrounding Arab nations.) In the following days, Israel was recognized by the leading nations of the international community, including the United States and Russia. Following UN protocol, the State of Israel submitted its application for membership in the body. In the spring of 1949, the Security Council recommended Israel for membership, and it was confirmed by the General Assembly.
www.adl.org/peace-process/default.asp)
From AJC:
In recent months, Palestinian leadership has embarked on a political campaign that – bypassing negotiations for an enduring and viable peace with Israel – seeks international recognition for a unilaterally declared state. Such unwise action would foreclose further negotiations, effectively ending the peace process. Jeopardizing Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation, it could also instigate a new cycle of violence, with serious regional implications; the May 15 (“Nakba Day”) and June 5 (anniversary of the Six Day War) riots displayed the grave potential for Palestinian abandonment of a political path with Israel.
Only through direct negotiations with Israel can the Palestinians fully realize their national aspirations. Any attempted shortcut, either at the UN or elsewhere, will only delay a solution, thus unnecessarily prolonging the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians who desire to live in peace and security.
President Obama, in his May 19, 2011, speech on “Winds of Change in the Middle East,” said: “For the Palestinians, efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure. Symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won’t create an independent state. Palestinian leaders will not achieve peace or prosperity if Hamas insists on a path of terror and rejection. And Palestinians will never realize their independence by denying the right of Israel to exist.” We fully concur.
From AIPAC:
The statehood push by the Palestinians could have severe implications for peace efforts and relations between the parties.
The Palestinian effort at the United Nations signals the PLO’s rejection of the principle of solving the conflict through direct negotiations with Israel. Even “if we succeed in opening the door for negotiations, we’re not going to stop from attaining what belongs to us as Palestinians in this General Assembly starting on Sept. 20,” said Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. representative.
also look at: israelim.com ynetnews.com urj.org