Tag Archives: statehood

News

Palestinian Bid for UN Membership

Friday 23rd September sees the Palestinian Authority submit and application to the United Nations for full UN Membership.

The UN has three types of status:

1. Full Membership: According to the charter of the United Nations, “membership is open to peaceful nations that are willing and able to carry out the duties required by the charter”. Upon the recommendation of the Security Council, the General Assembly decides whether to approve a nation’s candidacy.

2. Non-Member Status: Can also be conferred, allowing certain countries, organisations or entities to benefit from collaborations with any of the UN’s specialised agencies

3. Observer: Grants permission to attend UN General Assembly meetings. The Vatican and the Palestinian Authority currently have observer status.

It is highly unlikely the bid will succeed, since Full Membership has to be voted on by the UN Security Council, and America has a veto within the Council. However, America is unable to veto any vote in the General Assembly, therefore it is more likely Palestine will be granted Non-Member status.

This would strengthen Palestine’s hand, and place significant pressure on Israel and America to concede to the Palestinian demands of statehood, along the lines of pre-1967 borders (these borders have been deemed as indefensible for Israel, in previous UN resolutions), with East-Jerusalem as the capital.

However if the bid for full membership is not pursued violence could erupt in the Palestinian areas against Israel, so either way this is a very sensitive and potentially inflammatory situation.  Pray for God’s wisdom over all the leaders of the United Nations and particularly Netanyahu and Abbas to reach agreement outside of the United Nations forum.

 

News

Egypt Calls US to back Palestinian State Declaration

Last week a deal was reached in Egypt between Hamas and Fatah. The agreement constituted a reconciliation between the two opposing Palestinian powers. As a consequence of the deal, the new Egyptian government has declared it now fully supports the Palestinian plan to declare a separate Palestinian State.

This marks an important change in policy in Egypt, under President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt was always an ally of Israel, and refused to work with the terrorist organisation Hamas. However, since Mubarak’s removal from power in March, Egypt has been quick to break ties with Israel, a move popular with most Egyptians.

Egypt is urging the US to follow their lead and also declare support for the Palestinian State Declaration, however America has so far continued to hold firm to it’s policy of not doing business with Hamas.