Abbas officially submits Palestinian application for full UN membership

[Scurrilous]

Palestinian President meets with UN's Ban Ki-moon to officially submit statehood bid; Abbas to speak at General Assembly shortly afterward.

<snip>

"Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday handed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon an official application for full UN membership on Friday, moments before he was due to address the UN General Assembly.

"This is a historic day in which the Palestinians are demanding the right for independence," said senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat.

Abbas is expected to speak at the UN General Assembly at around 12:30 A.M. EST, or 7:30 P.M. in Israel. Netanyahu is due to deliver his speech about 45 minutes afterward."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/abbas-officially-submits-palestinian-application-for-full-un-membership-1.386351

:thumbsup:

[Harmony Blue]

1. I wonder if the U.S. will have to veto if it reaches that point

this will be interesting. o.O

[CJvR]

25. Perhaps....

...the US should step aside from this one.

If Russia, China, Turkey etc are so keen on granting UN memberships to ethnic groups that don't really meet the requirements for nationhood then there is a long list of other potential members. The Kurds, Chechens and loads of other minorities in Russia, Tibetans, Taiwan etc, etc, etc...

[Jefferson23]

2. +1, he is up now at the UN Scurrilous. n/t

[Scurrilous]

3. Listening at your link.

:thumbsup:

[King_David]

4. Oh boy this is so exciting

Nobody knows whats going to happen . LOL

[shira]

5. Yay! Statehood for 25% of all Palestinians! The rest remain refugees! Woot, Woot!! Hey, WTF?

Interview: Refugees will not be citizens of new state
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Sep-15/148791-interview-refugees-will-not-be-citizens-of-new-state.ashx#axzz1YhRZovVf

4.8 out of 6.4 million Palestinians worldwide are refugees.

So 25% enjoy a state and self-determination.

The rest can rot according to Abbas' PA.

[Harmony Blue]

6. This is progress

There is a reason why the turtle won the race and not the hare.

[shira]

7. Tell that to the refugees who are forced to live the rest of their days in camps. n/t

[Harmony Blue]

8. So your preference would be they ALL be refugees?

Progress takes time and patience.

[shira]

11. The PA is using them as weapons for RoR. My preference is they become citizens with rights...

...either where they are now or in a future Palestine. At the very least, they should have a choice.

[azurnoir]

14. Tell us please was every Jew in refugee camp in 1948 automatically a citizen of Israel?

didn't they also have to apply? why the double standard?

[shira]

20. Jews of 1948 weren't used as weapons for mass RoR to flood an enemy state. n/t

[azurnoir]

23. what enemy state is being 'mass flooded'?

Israel has total and complete control over who it will allow to immigrate period and you know that

[shira]

27. The PA's goal is precisely that. Refugees are going nowhere until that happens.

Your claim that they only need apply to Palestine is nothing but wishful thinking.

The article in the Daily Star is clear that refugees (even within the WB and Gaza) won't become citizens of a future Palestine due to RoR.

[azurnoir]

12. How many times are you going to post this article?

the claims you make were disproven the very first time you posted it as a thread Palestinian refugees will have apply for citizenship that's all but I do remember the progression of your claims first it was just refugees living outside of Palestine, then it was all Palestinians, then it was Palestinians living in Gaza this has the reek of flinging feces till something sticks

[Jefferson23]

17. I believe the objective is to pass this along as successfully as possible

to those unfamiliar with the history of the conflict. Doesn't matter evidently, what is dis-proven and or clarified.

[azurnoir]

26. another 'info-mercial' moment apparently n/t

[shira]

21. Not even refugees within Gaza/WB will become citizens anywhere until full RoR is realized.

That means they're going nowhere for a very long time.

They and their grandkids will remain in camps within a future Palestine, waiting to "return"....

[Jefferson23]

22. rebuttal in post#17. n/t

[Jefferson23]

9. Full transcript of Abbas speech at UN General Assembly

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses UN General Assembly after submitting application for recognition to UN Chief Ban Ki-moon.

Mr. President of the General Assembly of the United Nations,

Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset, I wish to extend my congratulations to H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser on his assumption of the Presidency of the Assembly for this session, and wish him all success.

I reaffirm today my sincere congratulations, on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian people, to the government and people of South Sudan for its deserved admission as a full member of the United Nations, wishing them progress and prosperity.

I also congratulate the Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, on his election for a new term at the helm of the United Nations. This renewal of confidence reflects the world’s appreciation for his efforts, which have strengthened the role of the United Nations.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Question Palestine is intricately linked with the United Nations via the resolutions adopted by its various organs and agencies and via the essential and lauded role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East - UNRWA - which embodies the international responsibility towards the plight of Palestine refugees, who are the victims of Al-Nakba (Catastrophe) that occurred in 1948. We aspire for and seek a greater and more effective role for the United Nations in working to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in our region that ensures the inalienable, legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people as defined by the resolutions of international legitimacy of the United Nations.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A year ago, at this same time, distinguished leaders in this hall addressed the stalled peace efforts in our region. Everyone had high hopes for a new round of final status negotiations, which had begun in early September in Washington under the direct auspices of President Barack Obama and with participation of the Quartet, and with Egyptian and Jordanian participation, to reach a peace agreement within one year. We entered those negotiations with open hearts and attentive ears and sincere intentions, and we were ready with our documents, papers and proposals. But the negotiations broke down just weeks after their launch.

After this, we did not give up and did not cease our efforts for initiatives and contacts. Over the past year we did not leave a door to be knocked or channel to be tested or path to be taken and we did not ignore any formal or informal party of influence and stature to be addressed. We positively considered the various ideas and proposals and initiatives presented from many countries and parties. But all of these sincere efforts and endeavors undertaken by international parties were repeatedly wrecked by the positions of the Israeli government, which quickly dashed the hopes raised by the launch of negotiations last September.

remainder: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/full-transcript-of-abbas-speech-at-un-general-assembly-1.386385

[Jefferson23]

10. Netanyahu at UN: Palestinians can get state only after peace with Israel

PM responds to Palestinians' UN statehood bid, says Israel is prepared to have a Palestinian state in West Bank but doesn't want another Gaza.

By News Agencies

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that the Palestinians want a state without peace, stressing they must make peace with Israel before vying for statehood.

"The Palestinians must first make peace with Israel, and only then get their state," Netanyahu said while speaking before the UN General Assembly on Friday.

"Israel is prepared to have a Palestinian state in the West Bank, but we're not prepared to have another Gaza there," Netanyahu stressed.

He spoke Friday shortly after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, defying U.S. and Israeli opposition, asked the United Nations to accept them as a member state, sidestepping nearly two decades of failed negotiations.


http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-at-un-palestinians-can-get-state-only-after-peace-with-israel-1.386380

[Scurrilous]

13. LOL

Bill Clinton: Netanyahu isn't interested in Mideast peace deal

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/bill-clinton-netanyahu-isn-t-interested-in-mideast-peace-deal-1.386222

Former U.S. President says a cynical perspective of Prime Minister's calls for negotiations 'means that he's just not going to give up the West Bank'.

[Jefferson23]

15. I know, I was pleased to read Clinton pointed the finger at Bibi.

Netanyahu's speech was predictable..security, teeny tiny Israel, poor Israel..blah blah blah.

Awe inspiring, wasn't it? lol

[Scurrilous]

18. I was heckling.

:P

[Jefferson23]

19. lol, don't get yourself arrested now.

Heckle at your peril now.

[Fozzledick]

16. So is Abbas taking responsibility for all attacks from Gaza now?

Or is that not part of his "state"?

Just wonderin' :shrug:

[Scurrilous]

24. U.N. Security Council gets Palestinian application

<snip>

"U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday forwarded to the Security Council the Palestinian application for formal recognition of their statehood, a U.N. spokesman said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had earlier filed the application with Ban. The Security Council is expected to take some time to consider the Palestinian application, which the United States has promised to veto should it be brought to a vote."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/23/un-assembly-palestinians-council-idUSWEN874120110923