A new country emerging

[nairiporter]

"At long last, the international community has signed the act that paves the way to a Palestinian state - and long overdue". This is how Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas commented on the UN vote from last month, where the Palestinian autonomy was upgraded to "observer" status. Still not a full member, but definitely a progress. Israel, of course

Comments

[htpcl]

> Some of the newer EU members also abstained, fearing that voting either way would hurt their good relations with both sides

[underlankers]

I'm rather pessimistic that this will lead to genuine change, primarily because Israel and the USA opposed it, and because the concept of a Palestinian state was technically nullified by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in 1948 and perpetuated by the Israelis. By this point establishing a genuinely independent Palestine will destabilize an already unstable balance of power, albeit to secure it also requires the Israeli state to show a greater willingness to accept the rule of law in the occupied territories, such as ultimately withdrawing from them and showing respect for international law than it's yet to do. As well as the maturity to recognize the moral high ground is not equivalent to pointing to bad acts by others to justify their own.

[the_rukh]

They just need to convert the occupied territories in to states and name the whole place Israelistine. Give palestinians proportional representation. I'm sure it'll all go just fine and if it doesn't, well it's a national matter not an international one.

[underlankers]

It actually wouldn't given that Palestinians + Israeli Arabs would make Jews a minority state that's explicitly intended to be a state for Jews. It's that bit about 'Jewish' state that will be Israel's biggest problem in the long term, but Israel's leaders ain't thinking in the long term. Or necessarily even in the short term.

[the_rukh]

National problem; not our problem.

[dreadfulpenny81]

It's not as if this vote gives Palestine any real power or anything. Certainly doesn't give them control over any more property than what they had before the vote. It's basically the UN's way of saying, "Yes, we acknowledge that you're here, now watch, learn, and shut the hell up."

[nairiporter]

I don't know if the UN is telling the Palestinians to shut up. It seems they are encouraging them to raise their voice with every next step they make.

[underlankers]

They did that in 1947. This, coupled with Israel building more settlements when Palestinians use law and backing down after the Palestinians shoot at them, is one reason Israel keeps finding Palestinians that shoot at them. If Rule of Law doesn't work and the cycle of blood does, what idiot goes knowingly for the methods that don't work?

[tcpip]

If Palestine is indeed allowed to join the Court, in theory it could file a lawsuit against Israel on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Yes, it certainly could. They could also be on the receiving end of the same stick; but also call for international peacekeepers.