Palestinian Statehood | The American Task Force on Palestine

Op-Ed: Israel should support the Palestinian statehood push
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Michael Weil - (Opinion) September 12, 2011 - 12:00am

(JTA) -- Israelis and Jews around the world are awaiting the Palestinians’ push at the United Nations for statehood with trepidation. The official response of the government of Israel and American Jewish groups has been to do everything possible to prevent any action at the U.N. and to line up votes against it. Only America and a few other nations have joined Israel’s side. Most European countries are likely to either support the Palestinians or abstain. The current Israeli strategy seems certain to fail.

Humpty Dumpty Palestine
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Aaron David Miller - (Opinion) September 12, 2011 - 12:00am

In coming weeks, we're going to hear quite a bit at the United Nations and in world capitals about Palestinian rights, unity, and statehood. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) -- the original organizational embodiment of Palestinian nationalism -- will either succeed in gaining new status as a nonmember U.N. observer state, or win a General Assembly resolution supporting Palestinian statehood.

The UN bid for Palestinian statehood is irresponsible and counter-productive. But the US must not restrict aid as a punishment
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Telegraph
by Michael Weiss - (Blog) September 12, 2011 - 12:00am

Last Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that he’ll be going to the United Nations on September 26 to seek full recognition of Palestinian statehood, based on 1967 borders with Israel, via the UN Security Council. The US is sure to vote “no” to full recognition, and various European countries may abstain or likewise reject the proposal. In that event, Abbas has said he’ll seek “non-member observer” status for Palestine, conveyed via the more flexible General Assembly.

The Sword of September
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
(Editorial) September 12, 2011 - 12:00am

September is here. Hanging over the head of world diplomacy like the Sword of Damocles, the month has taken on a new and foreboding meaning this year: It’s the time when the Palestinians plan to ask the United Nations to, in one form or another, elevate their national aspirations. Even many Palestinians think this is a bad idea, and we agree.

E.U. Divided by 'Palestine' Bid at U.N.
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Judy Dempsey - September 12, 2011 - 12:00am

BERLIN — It is a rare moment of truth. After years of advocating a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Europeans will have to decide whether to support the Palestinian bid to become a member of the United Nations. Over the coming days, the Palestinian Authority will finalize the text of the resolution it will present this month to the United Nations. The Palestinians want their status upgraded from “observer” to full membership but might have to settle in the end for “nonmember state,” similar to the Vatican.

Palestinians have the advantage at UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Adel Safty - (Opinion) September 12, 2011 - 12:00am

In the Art of War, the oldest military treatise in the world, Chinese writer Sun Tzu states: “ All warfare is based on deception.”

Curb Your Enthusiasm: Israel and Palestine after the UN
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Crisis Group
(Editorial) September 12, 2011 - 12:00am

In diplomatic lexicon, September 2011 is shorthand for a Palestinian statehood bid at the UN, ensuing Israeli and U.S. retaliation and, in fine, a train-wreck. There are legitimate fears about the fallout, but obsession with what will happen at the UN and the disproportionate energy invested in aborting it are getting in the way of clear thinking. This could well produce a cure more lethal than the ailment.

Palestinian Statehood
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
(Editorial) September 11, 2011 - 12:00am

A United Nations vote on Palestinian membership would be ruinous. Yet with little time left before the U.N. General Assembly meets, the United States, Israel and Europe have shown insufficient urgency or boldness in trying to find a compromise solution. The need for action is even more acute after alarming tensions flared in recent days between Israel and two critical regional players — Egypt and Turkey.

Abbas Will Go to U.N. General Assembly for Statehood Bid, Diplomats Say
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
September 11, 2011 - 12:00am

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had informed the EU of his decision not to turn to the UN Security Council on September 20 to request that Palestine be accepted as a full member of the organization, senior diplomats told Haaretz. Abbas, who realizes that the United States will exercise its veto power at the Security Council, has instead decided to turn to the UN General Assembly, whose resolutions are less binding, in order to seek the support of the European Union member states in the vote.

Veto a State, Lose an Ally
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Turki al-Faisal - (Opinion) September 11, 2011 - 12:00am

The United States must support the Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations this month or risk losing the little credibility it has in the Arab world. If it does not, American influence will decline further, Israeli security will be undermined and Iran will be empowered, increasing the chances of another war in the region.

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