Palestinians win UN state recognition
UN: The UN General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to make
Palestine a non-member state, inflicting a major diplomatic defeat on
the United States and Israel.
The victory for President Mahmud Abbas triggered scenes of joy in the
occupied West Bank where thousands celebrated with bursts of gunfire and
cheers in the city of Ramallah.
Abbas claimed what he called a UN "birth certificate" for a
Palestinian state and got the backing of 138 countries in the 193 member
assembly. Nine voted against and 41 abstained while five did not
participate.
A Palestinian flag was unfurled in the General Assembly as the
victory was pronounced. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
condemned what he called a "venomous" speech by the Palestinian leader.
The vote lifts the Palestinian Authority from an observer entity to a
"non-member observer state" on a par with the Vatican.
Palestine has no vote on the General Assembly but is able to join UN
agencies and potentially the International Criminal Court (ICC), where
it could ask for an investigation of Israeli actions.
The Palestinian leadership says it wants to use the vote as a
launchpad for renewed direct talks with Israel, which have been frozen
for more than two years.
Abbas told the assembly the resolution was "the last chance to save
the two-state solution." In a 22-minute speech laced with references to
Israel's operation against Gaza and its Hamas rulers this month, Abbas
said time for an accord is running out.
"The rope of patience is shortening and hope is withering."
Afterwards, he said the vote had been "historic." "Tomorrow we begin the
real war," Abbas said at a celebration reception. "We have a long road
and difficult road ahead of us. I don't want to spoil our victory
tonight but the road ahead is still difficult." The United States and
Israel immediately condemned the vote, which US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton called "counterproductive."
US Ambassador Susan Rice sternly told the General Assembly that the
resolution would be "an obstacle to peace" because it would not lead to
a return to direct talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.
"Today's grand pronouncements will soon fade. And the Palestinian
people will wake up tomorrow and find that little about their lives has
changed, save that the prospects of a durable peace have only receded,"
she said.
The United States blocked a Palestinian application for full UN
membership -- made by Abbas in September 2011 -- at the UN Security
Council.
Netanyahu slammed Abbas. "The world watched a defamatory and venomous
speech that was full of mendacious propaganda," his office said.
Israeli UN Ambassador Ron Prosor said recognizing Palestine "will
place further obstacles and preconditions to negotiations and peace" and
could even lead to increased violence.
Abbas was warned earlier by UN leader Ban Ki-moon that the Middle
East peace process is on "life support" and that both Netanyahu and
Abbas must take action to revive talks.
The Palestinian leader did not make any reference to the possibility
of joining the International Criminal Court -- a major worry for Israel
which fears a possible investigation.
But Abbas said: "We will act responsibly and positively in our next
steps, and we will work to strengthen cooperation with the countries and
peoples of the world for the sake of a just peace." The vote could give
a boost to Abbas who faces a mounting challenge from Hamas after the
Israeli offensive on Gaza, diplomats said.
Hamas welcomed the vote, calling it a "victory." "This is a new
victory on the road to the liberation of Palestine and return and we
congratulate ourselves," senior Hamas official Ahmed Yussef told AFP.
But Britain and Germany, which abstained, believe the Palestinians
should have waited until after US President Barack Obama installed his
new administration and Israel held elections before making its UN bid.
France voted in favour of the resolution. "The Palestinian step comes
at a difficult moment and there could be heavy repercussions," said
French ambassador Gerard Araud.
France called on both sides to respond through the resumption of
talks "and not through reprisals which will only play the game of the
extremists," he added.
The Palestinians still face an uncertain future on the diplomatic
stage. Despite their greater access to the UN system, there are divided
opinions over whether they will be able to automatically join the ICC.
Palestinian envoys have said Abbas will not rush to join the court
but could use it as leverage if Israel does not change its policies on
settlements and other matters.
The Palestinian Authority and UN agencies that accept Palestinian
participation could also lose hundreds of millions of dollars in
financing because of the vote.
Washington has warned Abbas he risks losing around $200 million in
aid, which is blocked in the US Congress.
AFP |