Palestine

[raison de arizona]

LEAKED CABLES SHOW WHITE HOUSE OPPOSES PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD
Despite Biden’s pledge to support a two-state solution, cables argue that Palestine should not be granted U.N. member status.

AHEAD OF THE United Nations Security Council action to consider the Palestinian Authority’s application to become a full member of the international body, the United States is lobbying nations to reject such membership, hoping to avoid an overt “veto” by Washington. The lobbying effort, revealed in copies of unclassified State Department cables obtained by The Intercept, is at odds with the Biden administration’s pledge to fully support a two-state solution.

In 2012, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution granting Palestine the status of a non-member observer state.

The diplomatic cables detail pressure being applied to members of the Security Council, including Malta, the rotating president of the council this month. Ecuador in particular is being asked to lobby Malta and other nations, including France, to oppose U.N. recognition. The State Department’s justification is that normalizing relations between Israel and Arab states is the fastest and most effective way to achieve an enduring and productive statehood.

While clarifying that President Joe Biden has worked vigorously to support “Palestinian aspirations for statehood” within the context “of a comprehensive peace that would resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” a diplomatic cable dated April 12 details U.S. talking points against a U.N. vote for Palestinian statehood. The cable says that Security Council members must be persuaded to reject any proposal for Palestinian statehood — and thereby its recognition as a sovereign nation — before the council’s open debate on the Middle East, scheduled for April 18.

“It remains the U.S. view that the most expeditious path toward a political horizon for the Palestinian people is in the context of a normalization agreement between Israel and its neighbors,” the cable reads. “We believe this approach can tangibly advance Palestinian goals in a meaningful and enduring way.”

“We therefore urge you not to support any potential Security Council resolution recommending the admission of ‘Palestine’ as a U.N. member state, should such a resolution be presented to the Security Council for a decision in the coming days and weeks.”

https://theintercept.com/2024/04/17/uni ... statehood/

[raison de arizona]

U.S. vetoes Palestinian bid for full UN membership

The U.S. on Thursday voted no and vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution to accept Palestine as a full member of the UN.

Why it matters: The vote comes six months into the war in Gaza and amid intense pressure on President Biden internationally and among his own party to do more to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The administration has faced criticism from some Democrats for its continued support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government in their war against Hamas.
Driving the news: The U.S. used its veto power in the 15-member UN Security Council to oppose a draft resolution that would give Palestine full member status at the UN instead of its current observer status.

There were 12 votes in favor of the resolution: Russia, China, France, Japan, South Korea, Ecuador, Algeria, Malta, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Guyana.
Two member states — the UK and Switzerland — abstained from voting.

https://www.axios.com/2024/04/18/us-opp ... membership

[busterbunker]

Is Palestine a dirty word around here? Are we witnessing genocide yet, or not?

Why isn't this forum discussing this?

[MN-Skeptic]

https://thefogbow.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2489

[raison de arizona]

Full statement at link.

No, Mr. Netanyahu. It is not antisemitic or pro-Hamas to point out that in a little over six months your extremist government has killed 34,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 77,000 – 70% of whom are women and children.

You will not distract us from this immoral war.

[Uninformed]

U.S. Department of State:
“…However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic…”
https://www.state.gov/defining-antisemitism/

Although it’s common knowledge it’s worth noting that Palestinians are themselves Semites.

[raison de arizona]

I'm pretty confident in what the results of Israel's investigation will be.

Reporter: Evidence at Gaza mass graves show torture and signs of being buried alive, Palestinians called for an independent investigation, what’s wrong with that?

Patel: We’re asking Israel

Reporter: You’re asking the accused to investigate itself?

Patel: We’re asking Israel

[raison de arizona]

Mr. Netanyahu, antisemitism is a vile and disgusting form of bigotry that has done unspeakable harm to millions.

Do not insult the intelligence of the American people by attempting to distract us from the immoral and illegal war policies of your extremist and racist government.

[p0rtia]

Bless you, Bernie. Yes, I voted for him in the 2016 primary.

[p0rtia]

Pro-Palestinian protesters protesting the Whitehouse Correspondence Dinner.

Telling journos that they are complicit.

LIve camera coverage on APNews

https://www.youtube.com/live/nPL3J_MU98 ... EebzbhUTHu

[raison de arizona]

Nothing should distract us from the unprecedented humanitarian disaster taking place in Gaza right now.

[RTH10260]

in the last couple of weeks it seems to get forgotten that it was Hamas that invaded Israel, killed thousands and made off with hundreds of hostages. The Gaza DIfficulties could be solved within hours IFF Hamas were to release all hostages and show where any deceased hostages remains can be found.

[raison de arizona]

Hamas /= Palestine.

Also that's not true: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024 ... uce-offers

[andersweinstein]

Hamas /= Palestine.

But Hamas is the government of Gaza that instigated the current war.

Also that's not true: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024 ... uce-offers

Al-Jazeera?? You're pawning off Al-Jazeera propaganda? The bullshit in this piece is that Hamas has made clear they would "accept" a two-state solution (if it included Jerusalem as capital AND full right of return, ha ha) without ever recognizing "the Zionist entity" and then ONLY as a temporary way station on the way to full destruction of Israel.

[raison de arizona]

There hasn't been an election there in nearly 20 years. An entire generation has never seen a vote.

How about AP?
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas ... 8f3ab5af6a

Netanyahu said Israel would enter Rafah, which Israel says is Hamas’ last stronghold, regardless of whether a truce-for-hostages deal is struck. His comments appeared to be meant to appease his nationalist governing partners but it was not clear whether they would have any bearing on any emerging deal with Hamas.

“The idea that we will stop the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question,” Netanyahu said, according to a statement from his office. “We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate Hamas’ battalions there — with or without a deal, to achieve the total victory.”

[andersweinstein]

There hasn't been an election there in nearly 20 years. An entire generation has never seen a vote.

This does not seem inconsistent with what I wrote.

The way I think about it: When Japanese leadership bombed Pearl Harbor, they brought war onto their people, with very bad results for the civilian population they governed. When the Hamas government of Gaza instigated the current war, they brought war onto their people, with similarly terrible results.

How about AP?
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas ... 8f3ab5af6a

Netanyahu said Israel would enter Rafah, which Israel says is Hamas’ last stronghold, regardless of whether a truce-for-hostages deal is struck. His comments appeared to be meant to appease his nationalist governing partners but it was not clear whether they would have any bearing on any emerging deal with Hamas.

“The idea that we will stop the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question,” Netanyahu said, according to a statement from his office. “We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate Hamas’ battalions there — with or without a deal, to achieve the total victory.”

That is indeed a much better source. I would, however, note the highlighted qualification.