Bid to be a United Nations Member

The original plan was to follow up last week’s entry on “Why Israel is important to Jews” with a similar look as to Israel’s importance to Palestinians. However, with Palestine and their bid to become a recognized member of the United Nations in the news of late, I thought I would deviate from said plan and talk a bit more about these current events. The wonderful thing about being the author of one’s own blog, it allows one to write what one wants.

On September 21 Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, will go before the United Nations General Assembly seeking to become a recognized member of the UN. Will he succeed? No. There is no chance that his bid will be successful. For Palestine to be recognized before the UN as a member state, 9 out of the 15 countries that make up its Security Council must vote in favor of this resolution. In addition, to receiving these nine votes none of the nations who enjoy permanent status on the Security Council (USA, France, England, China, and Russia) may use their veto power against the resolution (NBC1). Considering the US’s relationship with Israel a veto on their part can all but be guaranteed. The best that Abbas can hope for is to granted “nonmember observer” status. This status can be achieved if Abbas takes his bid directly to the UN General Assembly and achieves a two thirds majority vote – 129 out of the 193 nations. Though this status would not allow Palestine a right to vote on resolutions put before the UN it would allow Palestine to take part in other aspects of the UN, such the UN Convention against Torture, the UN Convention against Corruption as well as bring countries before the International Criminal Court. This right would be especially appealing to Palestine for it would allow them bring charges against Israel for their continued abuse of international law i.e. settlements (NBC1).

So, why if there is no chance of gaining member status and only a small chance of achieving non-member observer status is Abbas going down this road? There are a number of theories. Some say it is to bring focus back to the plight of the Palestinian people. Others claim that the mass support shown (over 100 countries are said to vote their support) for the Palestinian cause will put pressure on Israel especially in light of the political changes going on in region. The Palestinian government argues however, that it is all part of the planned time frame set up by the EU, USA, Russia and the UN who wanted to have a two state solution in hand by September 2011 (BBC1).

I feel that while all these theories may be true to a point, the reason Abbs is seeking UN memberships is so that he can been seen as fighting for Palestine. Palestinians are tired and angry. It has been almost almost 20 years since the Oslo Accords and the peace talks since have changed nothing for them, at least not changed for the better. I think this is move on Abbas' part to help gain back some public good will as well as stave off another intifada.

Whatever the government's reason they are doing so at a great risk to themselves as the Isreali government has threatend "limiting travel privileges for Palestinian leaders seeking to exit the West Bank, halting the transfer of crucial tax revenues to the Palestinians and even annexing West Bank settlement blocs". The United States government has also had a hand in making threats in their case it was to "cut their annual aid to the Palestinian Authority, which runs to some $450m - more than 10 per cent of the PA's annual budget" (AlJazzera)

Work Cited

Palestinian UN Vote: What is it? Why Now? (NBC)

Q&A: Palestinian statehood bid at UN (BBC)

Background: Facts Behind the Bid