Post by uz on Sept 23, 2011 17:30:30 GMT -5
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas makes UN statehood bid
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has submitted his request to the UN for recognition of a Palestinian state.
To rapturous applause in the General Assembly, he urged the Security Council to back a state with pre-1967 borders.
He said the Palestinians had entered negotiations with Israel with sincere intentions, but blamed the building of Jewish settlements for their failure.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he was reaching out to Palestinians and blamed them for refusing to negotiate.
"I continue to hope that President Abbas will be my partner in peace," he said in his speech in New York.
"Let's meet here today in the United Nations. Who's there to stop us?"
Mr Netanyahu added that the core of the conflict was not settlements but the refusal of the Palestinians to recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
Meanwhile the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the UN, EU, US and Russia - said in a statement it wanted Israelis and Palestinians to meet within one month to agree an agenda for talks, and aim for a peace deal by the end of 2012.
Hours after receiving it, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon transmitted the Palestinian request to the Security Council.
Nawaf Salam, Lebanon's ambassador to the UN and the current Security Council president, said the application would be discussed on Monday.
In order to pass, it would need the backing of nine out of 15 council members, with no vetoes from the permanent members, but it could take weeks to reach a vote.
Israel and the US say a Palestinian state can only be achieved through talks with Israel - not through UN resolutions.
'Come to peace'
President Barack Obama told Mr Abbas on Thursday that the US would use its UN Security Council veto to block the move.
"I call upon the distinguished members of the Security Council to vote in favour of our full membership," Mr Abbas told the General Assembly, in what was for him an unusually impassioned speech.
He added that he hoped for swift backing. Many delegates gave him a standing ovation, and some were clapping and even whistling in support.
BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says this is significant because the Palestinians may yet apply to the General Assembly for enhanced status if their Security Council bid fails.
"I also appeal to the states that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine to do so," Mr Abbas said.
"The time has come for my courageous and proud people, after decades of displacement and colonial occupation and ceaseless suffering, to live like other peoples of the earth, free in a sovereign and independent homeland," he said.
Read more here;
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15033357
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has submitted his request to the UN for recognition of a Palestinian state.
To rapturous applause in the General Assembly, he urged the Security Council to back a state with pre-1967 borders.
He said the Palestinians had entered negotiations with Israel with sincere intentions, but blamed the building of Jewish settlements for their failure.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he was reaching out to Palestinians and blamed them for refusing to negotiate.
"I continue to hope that President Abbas will be my partner in peace," he said in his speech in New York.
"Let's meet here today in the United Nations. Who's there to stop us?"
Mr Netanyahu added that the core of the conflict was not settlements but the refusal of the Palestinians to recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
Meanwhile the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the UN, EU, US and Russia - said in a statement it wanted Israelis and Palestinians to meet within one month to agree an agenda for talks, and aim for a peace deal by the end of 2012.
Hours after receiving it, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon transmitted the Palestinian request to the Security Council.
Nawaf Salam, Lebanon's ambassador to the UN and the current Security Council president, said the application would be discussed on Monday.
In order to pass, it would need the backing of nine out of 15 council members, with no vetoes from the permanent members, but it could take weeks to reach a vote.
Israel and the US say a Palestinian state can only be achieved through talks with Israel - not through UN resolutions.
'Come to peace'
President Barack Obama told Mr Abbas on Thursday that the US would use its UN Security Council veto to block the move.
"I call upon the distinguished members of the Security Council to vote in favour of our full membership," Mr Abbas told the General Assembly, in what was for him an unusually impassioned speech.
He added that he hoped for swift backing. Many delegates gave him a standing ovation, and some were clapping and even whistling in support.
BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says this is significant because the Palestinians may yet apply to the General Assembly for enhanced status if their Security Council bid fails.
"I also appeal to the states that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine to do so," Mr Abbas said.
"The time has come for my courageous and proud people, after decades of displacement and colonial occupation and ceaseless suffering, to live like other peoples of the earth, free in a sovereign and independent homeland," he said.
Read more here;
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15033357