The United Nations this afternoon approved "nonmember observer state" status for the Palestinian Authority.
The measure was OK'd 138-9, with the U.S. and Canada voting against the proposal.
In response, U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison, quickly called the move a mistake.
“Today’s decision by the United Nations General Assembly to grant enhanced status to the Palestinian Authority is a mistake that will set back – not hasten – prospects for a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians," said Lowey, the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations.
“A genuine and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement between the parties themselves. Rather than engaging in these direct negotiations, it is disturbing that the Palestinians have chosen instead to undertake unilateral measures through international organizations," Lowey said. “It is in our interest and that of Israel to support the Palestinian Authority’s ability to provide basic services through economic and security assistance, but that is predicated on the willingness of the Palestinian Authority to negotiate directly with Israel. I have encouraged the Administration to use all diplomatic tools at their disposal, monetary or otherwise, to make our opposition to such unilateral steps clear, and to encourage the Palestinian Authority to return to direct meaningful negotiations with Israel.”
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, called the vote a "harmful distraction."
“Today's political theater at the United Nations is a harmful distraction from achieving true peace and stability between Israel and Palestine," Gillibrand said. "The only credible path for a two-state solution is through the negotiating table. The United States has made clear to the Palestinians and to others around the world that we stand with our ally Israel at this time of grave risk and insecurity. I urge Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to do everything in his power to block the Palestinians from access to the International Criminal Court.”
Congressman Eliot Engel condemned the United Nation's vote.
“I would like to see a two-state solution where a state of Palestine would live peacefully next to the state of Israel," Engel said. "But, this is not the way to get there. In fact, making Palestine a “nonmember observer state” outside of bilateral negotiations with Israel places the cart before the horse and eliminates the incentives for the Palestinians to engage in any type of dialogue with Israel."
“Indeed, the international community has its incentives for the Palestinians totally backwards," Rep. Engel stated. "Hamas shoots thousands of rockets at Israel and gets visits and legitimization from the international community. The Palestinian Authority is unwilling to engage in dialogue to reach a compromise with Israel and becomes a non-member observer state. Rewarding these actions is like putting the car in reverse and stepping on the gas."
I sure as hell have no solutions, but closing the door and see who comes out alive seems both cruel and unlikely to succeed.
And no, fighting continued. Pat Godfrey said it. Israeli and Palestinian hostiliies do not seem to have an end.
Take my 9 friends and go elsewhere, no more embassys and foes with diplomatic immunities here and no more funds and aid to the 132. Let the show begin. Will save billions to help us here that need it.
The Arab Palestine is called Jordan. The Jewish Palestine is called Israel. PS: go look up Tom Gross media - Gaza. It's not in the stone age, it has malls, very modern apts, a gold market, Hanniyeh said they need to export not import (save for the missiles and bombs), there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza (again Hanniyeh as well as the UN). The warlords just like their $$millions of stolen US aid as well as being warlords. The World is crazy.
The people of GAZA are free to do as they please....it is HAMAS that is the enemy warmongers.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3922596,00.html This past Saturday night, the Gaza Strip marked the grand opening of its new shopping mall, known as Strip Mall. So as the world continues to chastise Israel over its "blockade," Gaza residents (including the over 10,500 allowed intro Israel for medical treatment in 2009) can enjoy life at the fancy new shopping center. Grand Opening 1st Gaza mall attracts thousands / Ali Waked Despite siege, new shopping center in Strip opened its doors last Saturday to enthusiastic crowds, offering international brands, much-needed air-conditioning Full Story Curiously, a day after the mall opened, the European Union's Senior Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, called for Israel to lift the Gaza blockade. One wonders whether she found the time, while inspecting all the terrible sights of Gaza's humanitarian crisis during her visit, to stop by the new Gaza mall to check out how sales were going.