The Palestinians have showed incredible patience. Negotiations have been going on (and off) for 18 years. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has indicated that his patience is over and that he will resign. Losing hope, the Palestinian chief negotiator has now – according to Israeli military radio – decided to take the case directly to the UN Security Council.
Palestinians to seek UN endorsement of statehood
JERUSALEM – Palestinian officials said Sunday they are preparing to ask the United Nations to endorse an independent state without Israel’s consent because they are losing hope they can achieve their aspirations through peace talks. The announcement drew a harsh rebuke from Israeli officials.
In the West Bank, meanwhile, the Palestinians announced plans to extend the term of President Mahmoud Abbas after a recommendation to postpone presidential elections indefinitely.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said frustrated Palestinians had decided to turn to the U.N. Security Council after 18 years of on-again, off-again negotiations with Israel. The Palestinians seek an independent state that includes the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.
“Now is our defining moment. We went into this peace process in order to achieve a two-state solution,” he said. “The endgame is to tell the Israelis that now the international community has recognized the two-state solution on the ’67 borders.”
Abbas states that they will prepare well for discussions with the Security Council, that there will be no SC discussions until they have received assurances. That there is no point in rushing into the process just to meet a US veto.
The stakes are being raised. Let us see if this can break the total deadlock in getting meaningful negotiations.
