U.N. set for implicit recognition of Palestinian state, despite U.S., Israel threats
Thursday, November 29, 2012 17:10
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UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. General Assembly is set to implicitly recognize a sovereign state of Palestine on Thursday despite threats by the United States and Israel to punish the Palestinian Authority by withholding much-needed funds for the West Bank government.
A Palestinian resolution that would change the Palestinian Authority’s U.N. observer status from “entity” to “non-member state,” like the Vatican, is expected to pass easily in the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly.
Israel, the United States and a handful of other members are planning to vote against what they see as a largely symbolic and counterproductive move by the Palestinians.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been leading the campaign to win support for the resolution, and over a dozen European governments have offered him their support after an eight-day conflict this month between Israel and Islamists in the Gaza Strip, who are pledged to Israel’s destruction and oppose his efforts toward a negotiated peace.
The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns and U.S. Middle East peace envoy David Hale traveled to New York on Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to get Abbas to reconsider.
The Palestinians gave no sign they were turning back.
2012-11-29 16:58:45
Source: http://ppsimmons.blogspot.com/2012/11/un-set-for-implicit-recognition-of.html
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