Palestinians wary of UN bid for statehood

Some members of Australian Palestinian community say they are doubtful their nations bid for statehood at the UN will be a success.

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, received a standing ovation after his speech at the UN in September where he called on all members to vote for an official Palestinian state.

However, Australians for Palestine member, Mohamed Mashni, says it is unlikely a resolution to the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel will be reached any time soon.

Mr Mashni says it is time for world leaders to take action and recognise the responsibility they have towards the thousands of displaced Palestinian people.

“It’s critical for people to understand that the Palestinians have given up far more then the Israelis ever have,” he said.

“What it comes down to is that the Palestinian people have a fundamental right to live as equals with their Israeli neighbours.”

Mr Mashni says the US, who has the power to veto the application, must decide where they stand on the issue.

“Only 12 months ago President Obama made his speech at the UN and said he supports a Palestinian state being created; now 12 months later he hasn’t follow up on his actions.”

While Palestine has garnered an increased amount of support from the international community in the past year, it is still at loggerheads with the US who are expected to veto the application.

University of Queensland lecturer in Peace and Conflict studies, Phil Orchard, says the power balance within the UN Security Council will make it difficult for the Palestinian bid to gain approval.

“There have been suggestions certainly that the US is going to veto it,” he said.

“There are also suggestions that given the current composition of the Security Council it’s uncertain whether or not they could even get the nine vote majority they [Palestine] need to even pass it.”


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Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, is adamant a solution can only be reached by negotiations and has warned Palestine must be willing to compromise.

Addressing the UN assembly shortly after President Abbas, Mr Netanyahu said he extends his hand to the Palestinian people.

“[Palestinians] should live in a free state of their own but they should be willing to make compromises,” he said.

President for the Zionist Council of Victoria, Sam Tatarka, has echoed Mr Netanyahu’s sentiments.

He says Palestine must recognise Israel’s equal rights to the disputed land and accept the final boundary lines once a solution is reached.

“It is a very densely populated place but I believe it is possible for the two nations to live side by side,” he said.

“This is provided the Palestinian state that would be established completely relinquishes any claims over Israel and fundamentally reconciles itself to the settlement that is ultimately reached.”

While the official bid for statehood has launched the conflict between the two nations back onto the international stage, critics say it is unlikely a resolution will be found any time soon.

Director of the Centre for Citizenship and Globalisation, Fethi Mansouri, says it is likely to be an ongoing issue as both nations try to gain control of land they believe is rightfully theirs.

He says the Palestinian people are seeking the kind of legitimate recognition the international community has given to Israel.

“What the Palestinian people want is the notion of an independent state which recognises their own legitimate aspirations for legitimate statehood,” he says.

The UN Security Council is expected to vote on the issue by January.   

Related Stories
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13701636

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/201192615542764330.html

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3331190.htm