Another ‘Symbolic Victory’: Abbas’ New Political Gambit (Ramzy Baroud)

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Ramzy Baroud -- World News Trust

Sept. 22, 2011 -- When Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas decided to go to the United Nations to request the admission of Palestine as a full member, he appeared to have had an epiphany.

Had he finally realized that for the past two decades he and his party, Fatah, have gone down a road to nowhere? That Israel was only interested in him as a conduit to achieve its colonial endeavor in the remaining 22 percent of historical Palestine? That his national project -- predicated on the ever elusive ‘peace process’ -- achieved neither peace nor justice?

Abbas claims to be serious this time. Despite all U.S. attempts at intimidation (for example, by threatening to withhold funds), and despite the intensifying of Israeli tactics (including the further arming of illegal Jewish settlers to combat possible Palestinian mobilization in the West Bank), Abbas simply could not be persuaded against seeking a UN membership this September.

“We are going to the Security Council. We need to have full membership in the United Nations ... we need a state, and we need a seat at the UN,” Abbas told Palestinians in a televised speech Sept. 16.

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