Palestinian statehood bid not a unilateral act

PressTV - 'Palestinian statehood bid not a unilateral act':

Wed Jul 27, 2011 10:35AM GMT
Hank Flynn, Press TV, New York

"It was the last open United Nations Security Council debate on the Middle East before the opening of the new UN General Assembly in September.

The main subject was Palestine's aspirations for statehood. UN Special Coordinator Robert Serry said that there was little hope for new talks between the Palestinians and Israel.

Talks broke down last September when Israel refused to renew a ban on building new settlements in occupied territory.

The US and Israel continue to insist on a negotiated two-state solution regardless however as Palestine works toward its ultimate goal of full membership in the UN.

The road to membership runs through the Security Council though and on Tuesday; the US was clear that it would use its Permanent Five veto power to block Palestine's bid.

Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour acknowledged the US's promise of a veto but didn't rule out a possible try at membership in September anyway. Palestinian authorities have not revealed their strategy, which could also include a try at a non-binding resolution recognizing Palestine as a state in the UN General Assembly.
Mansour said that despite what the US called the Palestinian bid it is anything but unilateral.

More than 120 countries have declared their support for Palestinian statehood and Mansour mentioned Belgium and Spain as European nations with growing support for Palestine. Lebanese ambassador Nawaf Salam called the Palestinian UN membership bid the only option Palestine has.

Palestinian Ambassador Mansour pointed out that if Palestine did achieve full membership it would be the 194th UN member state and that UN Resolution 194 passed in 1948 guarantees right of return to Palestinian refugees.




- Sent using Google Toolbar"

The views expressed by the authors and/or contributors on this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of Palestine Video or the other contributors thereof.Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog. Activist and Other Videos on Palestine